17.10.2026 12:50
In the case of Nihat Bilgiç, who was killed with 14 stab wounds in a fight that broke out over a rent dispute in the Midyat district of Mardin, security camera footage of the moment of the incident has been entered into the case file. In the trial where his brother Halil Bilgiç and nephews Ali and Aziz Bilgiç are being tried in detention, Aziz Bilgiç admitted that he stabbed his uncle and said, 'I don't remember how many stab wounds I inflicted.' The court decided to continue the detention and adjourned the hearing to December 14.
In the Midyat district of MARDIN, in the trial of the detained defendants—his brother Halil (58) and his nephews Ali (35) and Aziz Bilgiç (27)—over the killing of Nihat Bilgiç (46) with 14 stab wounds in an argument that arose due to a rent dispute, security camera footage of the moment of the incident was entered into the case file. At the hearing, Aziz Bilgiç admitted that he had stabbed his uncle, saying, “I don’t remember how many stab wounds I inflicted or where I stabbed him.”
The incident occurred on May 7 in Bahçelievler Neighborhood of Midyat district. Nihat Bilgiç went to his brother Halil Bilgiç’s shop to collect the rent for the business premises he represented. Some time later, an argument broke out between the parties. When Halil Bilgiç’s children Ali and Aziz also arrived, the argument turned into a knife fight. Nihat Bilgiç, who received 14 stab wounds, died at Midyat State Hospital, where he was taken. Halil Bilgiç and his children Ali and Aziz, who were taken into custody as part of the investigation, were arrested by the court they were brought before.
After the indictment prepared by the public prosecutor was accepted by the Midyat Heavy Penal Court, a case was filed against the defendants for the crime of ‘aggravated intentional homicide.’ Security camera footage of the moment of the incident was also added to the case file.
FATHER: I DID NOT KNOW MY SON WOULD USE A KNIFE
The second hearing of the trial of the defendants was held at Midyat Heavy Penal Court. The defendants, the parties’ lawyers and the deceased’s relatives attended the hearing. Halil Bilgiç, making his defense at the hearing, claimed that he had argued with his brother and that he did not know his son would use a knife during the fight. Claiming that Nihat Bilgiç had cursed at him, put his hand to his throat and punched him, Halil Bilgiç said: “My aim was to protect the deceased; when the deceased punched me in the eye, I responded by reflex for a moment and tried to hit him. My other son Ali came and tried to separate us. During the scuffle my glasses fell to the ground. While trying to pick up my glasses, I saw blood on the ground; afterward I realized that the deceased had been stabbed. The incident happened and was over within 2 minutes. We had an argument with the deceased, but there was no enmity between us.”
After the footage examination report was read out, Halil Bilgiç again argued that his aim was to separate the parties, did not accept the accusation and requested his release.
NEPHEW ADMITTED THAT HE STABBED HIM
Defendant Aziz Bilgiç, stating that he was afraid his father would be harmed, admitted that he stabbed his uncle. Bilgiç, arguing that he had no intent to kill, stated that he regretted the incident and said: “My father is a heart patient. This incident happened because of the fear that harm would come to my father and my uncle’s severe insults toward me. As I ran at my uncle, I noticed the knife I use to prepare food at my workplace, which I do not normally carry with me but had forgotten in my pocket. I picked up the knife. My aim was not to kill; I struck the first blow to his shoulder. Because I was holding the knife by its tip, I cut my hand. I don’t remember how many stab wounds I inflicted or where I stabbed him. I was afraid something would happen to my father. I am very sorry for the incident; I wish I had died.”
Ali Bilgiç, on the other hand, claimed that he went to the scene to separate the argument and did not hit his uncle, saying: “I was afraid my father would be harmed because of his illness, and I tried to intervene. During the incident the deceased put his hand behind his back and pulled out a shiny object. I did not see exactly what it was. I did not know Aziz had a knife; if I had known, I would have stopped him. I have no guilt; my only aim was to separate them.”
Nurcan Bilgiç, the sister of the deceased Nihat and the defendant Halil Bilgiç, said that she complained about the defendants. Defense lawyers argued that their clients had not acted with intent to kill and that the incident had developed suddenly, and requested acquittal and release. The complaining party’s lawyers, stating that the camera footage and other evidence were important for clarifying the incident, requested that the defendants’ detention continue.
HEARING POSTPONED, FAMILY DEMANDED JUSTICE
The court panel evaluated the camera footage in the file, witness statements, records, post-mortem examination report and the defendants’ defenses. The panel, deciding that the detention of the 3 defendants should continue, ruled that the camera footage of the moment of the incident should be awaited from expert examination and that the report requested from the criminal laboratory should be monitored until it reached the file. In addition, a forced appearance order was issued for 2 witnesses. The hearing was postponed to December 14.
Nihat Bilgiç’s sister Aynur Bilgiç, in her statement after the hearing, said: “My brother Nihat was brutally killed by his own brother Halil Bilgiç, to whom he went to discuss the rent of the shop he represented, and by his own nephews Ali Bilgiç and Aziz Bilgiç, with dozens of stab wounds and punches, leaving Nihat with no strength and no room to defend himself. We want the state to focus on this incident and not let the joint crime committed go unpunished. Please help, let justice be done. We want the prosecutors and judges not to leave us alone on this matter and not to let my brother’s rights be disregarded in any way. My brother was brutally murdered by his own brother and his own two nephews. I have sick sisters and a disabled brother. We trust in justice and the state.”