09.06.2026 14:10
The trial regarding the death of 17-year-old Atlas Çağlayan, who was stabbed to death in a fight in Güngören, has begun. The grieving mother, Gülhan Ünlü, turned to the mother of the defendant E.Ç. as she entered the courtroom and shouted, 'Control your dog!' The mother of Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi, who was stabbed to death in Kadıköy, also came to the courthouse to support Gülhan Ünlü.
The trial regarding the death of 17-year-old Atlas Çağlayan, who was stabbed to death in a fight in Istanbul's Güngören district, has begun. The hearing, held at the Bakırköy 2nd Juvenile High Criminal Court in the courthouse conference hall, is closed to the press and spectators.
Present at the hearing were the defendant E.Ç. (14), the grieving family of the deceased Çağlayan, 4 victims, and the lawyers of the parties. While extensive security measures were taken around the courthouse, a large number of spectators, deputies from various parties, and victim families also came to the courthouse to support Çağlayan's family.
"WE DO NOT WANT THESE KILLERS TO MEET WITH THEIR FAMILIES" Before the hearing, many citizens came to the courthouse to support the grieving mother, Gülhan Ünlü. Meanwhile, Gülhan Ünlü made statements in front of the courthouse.
In her statement, stating that she wants the defendant to receive the harshest punishment, mother Gülhan Ünlü said, "Unfortunately, we will come face to face with the killers today. Our biggest expectation is that the other four accomplices will also be processed today. I can no longer tolerate them freely walking around outside. We want to protect all of our children now. We want the law to be passed as soon as possible. We want changes to be made in the Execution Law. We want our children to also benefit from the change in the law. We want a landmark decision. We do not want any reductions to be applied. We do not want these killers to meet with their families. Because we cannot see our children. We go and look at our children's graves. We do not want them to meet with their families either. We do not want killers outside. We do not want them to be called 'children' just because they are 15 years old. They are not children. When they commit the crime, when committing this offense, they were not children, so why are they children when being judged? They are not children; we want them to be tried as adults," she said.
GRIEVING MOTHER TO DEFENDANT'S MOTHER: "TAKE CARE OF YOUR DOG" Continuing her statement, mother Gülhan Ünlü also mentioned that she has never passed by the café where the incident occurred, saying, "I have never passed by it so far. The café reopened, was closed again, and was sealed." The large crowd that came to support the mother gathered in front of the courthouse to support the case, chanting slogans like "Justice for Atlas Çağlayan."
According to information reported from the courthouse by journalist İhsan Yalçın, Atlas Çağlayan's mother, Gülhan Ünlü, shouted at the mother of the 14-year-old defendant E.Ç., who entered the courtroom, "Take care of your dog!"
YASEMİN MİNGUZZİ SUPPORTS ÇAĞLAYAN'S MOTHER Yasemin Minguzzi, the mother of 15-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi, who lost his life in a knife attack in Kadıköy, was also present at the courthouse in support. Yasemin Minguzzi hugged and supported Atlas Çağlayan's family and friends.
FROM THE INDICTMENT In the indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, E.Ç. (14) was listed as 'suspect', Atlas Çağlayan as 'deceased', 4 children, including Çağlayan's twin brother Doruk, as 'victims', and 3 people, including Çağlayan's parents, as 'complainants'.
The prepared indictment stated that on the day of the incident, January 14, around 20:16, an argument broke out between two groups at a café, during which the Child Drawn into Crime (SSÇ) E.Ç. stabbed Atlas Çağlayan, resulting in Çağlayan's death at the hospital where he was taken, and an investigation was launched regarding the incident.
The death examination report stated that the injury was fatal on its own.
The indictment included the report from the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK). The report emphasized that E.Ç. committed the crimes of 'intentional killing', 'violation of law no. 6136 on firearms, knives, and other tools', and 'threat with a weapon', and that his ability to perceive the legal meaning and consequences of the acts and to direct his behavior was sufficiently developed.
Additionally, the death examination report of the deceased Atlas Çağlayan dated January 15, 2026, was included in the indictment. According to the report, Çağlayan had a 3.5 cm cut in the middle of the front chest and a 1.5 cm cut on the left chest, and the autopsy report stated that 2 incised stab wounds were detected on the body, with a wide incised stab wound in certain areas of the chest, and this injury was fatal on its own.
Footage review reports from the day of the incident were also included in the indictment. According to the reports, on the day of the incident, E.Ç. and his friends were sitting at the café, then Atlas arrived, and while leaving the café, E.Ç. made eye contact with Atlas. Atlas and his friends followed the SSÇ and his friends. E.Ç. took a knife out of his pocket and wounded Çağlayan by swinging the knife 2-3 times. After stabbing the deceased, the SSÇ fled with his friends.
It was also noted in the indictment that in the 3-month search and location data of the suspect E.Ç. and the deceased Atlas Çağlayan, no base station records were found between the parties. According to the examination of E.Ç.'s phone, it was mentioned that the suspect had multiple photos holding a weapon, photos of weapons alone, and 1 photo of a pocketknife.
DEMAND FOR UP TO 21 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS IN PRISON In the prepared indictment, it was requested that the suspect E.Ç. be sentenced to a total prison term ranging from 13 years and 6 months to 21 years and 7 months and 15 days for the crimes of 'intentional killing of a child', 'violation of law no. 6136', and 'chain threat with a weapon'.