15.01.2026 19:14
In the case regarding the stabbing murder of 22-year-old Hakan Çakır in Keçiören, Ankara, the trial of 5 defendants, including 2 minors, has begun. The hearing, which also experienced tensions, has been postponed to March 4; the words of the murdered Çakır's sister, "Seeing these people hurts even more. When we entered the courtroom, slogans were still being shouted that 'the Zeynal family is innocent,'" broke hearts.
In the case regarding the stabbing death of 22-year-old Hakan Çakır in Keçiören, Ankara, the trial of 5 defendants, including 2 minors charged with the crime, has begun.
The closed hearing at the Ankara 12th High Criminal Court was attended by detained defendants Ahmet Emir Zeynal, father Cemal Zeynal, B.S.Z, T.Y.Z, and the non-detained defendant Umut Kılınç, along with the lawyers of the parties. The family of the victim also followed the hearing.
TENSION IN THE HEARING
As the hearing continued, a verbal argument broke out between the parties, prompting the police to remove the families and friends of the defendants from the courtroom. Meanwhile, relatives of the Çakır family who came to observe the hearing, as well as some members of victim family platforms, waited in front of the Ankara Courthouse for the hearing to conclude.
According to the information received, the prosecutor, when asked for their opinion, requested the arrest of non-detained defendant Umut Kılınç, while asking for the continuation of the current situations of the other defendants. The victim's lawyers also demanded the harshest punishment for the defendants.
POSTPONED TO MARCH 4
The court panel, announcing its interim decision, ruled for the examination of the HTS records related to the incident and the continuation of the current situations of the defendants, postponing the hearing to March 4.
"THEIR STATEMENTS HAD CHANGED"
After the hearing, Şahin Çakır, the father of Hakan Çakır, answered questions from journalists in front of the Ankara Courthouse, stating that when he saw the defendants, the events came to life in his mind, and said, "All of their statements had changed. They had studied their lessons. They still say 'we are innocent'."
WORDS OF HIS SISTER BROUGHT TEARS
Melisa Çakır, Hakan's sister, expressed her wish for all defendants to receive the harshest punishment, saying:
"The 3 brothers used to sit side by side. They could chat with each other. But I can no longer do that. Seeing them hurts even more. When we entered the court, slogans were still being shouted that 'the Zeynal family is innocent.' They appeared in court with perfectly fine hands and faces, as if they were very accustomed to appearing in court every day. Without shame, they shed fake tears with false statements next to a mother whose son was murdered."
"MATERIAL TRUTH HAS EMERGED"
Victim's lawyer Umur Yıldırım also stated that the statements taken in court were different from those given during the investigation phase, and that these contradictions were emphasized during the hearing.
Yıldırım made the following evaluations: "In our opinion, the material truth has emerged. That is, it has been established that the Zeynal family and Umut committed this crime in participation. The evidence also shows this. It was revealed in the criminal reports that there were blood traces of each defendant on the victim."
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had prepared an indictment against 5 defendants regarding the stabbing death of 22-year-old Hakan Çakır in Keçiören.
On the night of August 10, around 1:00 AM, it was stated in the indictment that Hakan Çakır's brother M.N.Ç. and mother S.Ö. asked Umut Kılınç and Ahmet Emir Zeynal to move aside because they were blocking the road, and a dispute arose after the individuals made remarks after clearing the way. It was noted that Hakan Çakır lost his life due to a stab wound he received during the altercation.
In the indictment, it was requested that defendants Ahmet Emir Zeynal, Cemal Zeynal, and Umut Kılınç be sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of "intentional murder" against the victim Hakan Çakır, as well as for "attempted intentional murder," "simple injury," "insult," "simple injury against a woman," and "threat," with sentences of up to 45 years and 9 months, 40 years and 6 months, and 42 years and 6 months, respectively.
It was requested that the minors charged, B.S.Z, be sentenced to 41 years for "simple injury with a weapon," "intentional murder," and "attempted intentional murder," while T.Y.Z was sought to be sentenced to 26 years and 6 months for the same crimes.