29.10.2025 15:40
In the case regarding the murder of taxi driver Şemsettin A., who had an illicit relationship with his sister-in-law in Diyarbakır, the sentences of the defendants who received aggravated life sentences were reduced by the appellate court. The court applied a reduction for unjust provocation, converting the sentences to prison terms ranging from 8 to 12.5 years, and decided to release two of the defendants.
The taxi driver Şemsettin A., who had a 20-year forbidden relationship with his sister-in-law in Diyarbakır, was murdered, and the sentences of the defendants who received aggravated life sentences were reduced by the appellate court. The court applied a reduction for unjust provocation, converting the sentences of three defendants to life imprisonment, while two others were released.
According to a report in the Sözcü newspaper, 60-year-old taxi driver Şemsettin A. was killed by family members after the revelation of his long-term secret relationship with his sister-in-law. The incident came to light through voice recordings on his daughter's phone, which led the family to question Şemsettin A. Initially denying the allegations, both Şemsettin A. and his sister-in-law Emzade Ç. admitted to their relationship when the recordings were played. Following this, the family sent Şemsettin away, saying, "We do not want to live with you."
MURDER DISGUISED AS AN ACCIDENT
When the sons of his sister-in-law, Fırat and Azat Ç., learned of the incident, they went to the taxi stand to find their uncle. Later, Fırat and his cousin Ünal Ç. got into Şemsettin's vehicle and shot him four times in the head near Yeniköy Cemetery. The murder was disguised as an accident, but the KGYS records revealed that it was a planned execution.
COURT'S "HONOR KILLING" DETERMINATION
At the end of the trial, the court stated that the actions of the defendants constituted the crime of "murder with premeditation motivated by honor." Fırat and Ünal Ç. received aggravated life sentences, while their uncle Kazım and cousin Azat Ç. were acquitted due to lack of evidence. Ahmet Ç., who was found to have assisted in the murder, was sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison.
PROVOCATION REDUCTION AND RELEASE FROM THE APPELLATE COURT
The 1st Criminal Chamber of the Regional Appellate Court, which reviewed the case, partially overturned the decisions. The court ruled that the defendants committed the murder "under unjust provocation," reducing their sentences:
- Fırat Ç.'s sentence was reduced to 12.5 years, and he remains in custody.
- Ünal Ç.'s sentence was reduced to 10 years, and he was ordered to be released.
- Ahmet Ç. was released with a sentence of 8 years and 4 months in prison.
- The acquittals of Azat and Kazım Ç. were upheld.
A dissenting judge in the decision argued that the conditions for unjust provocation were not met for Fırat Ç., and that Ünal should also be punished as a "joint perpetrator."