18.08.2025 16:10
The reasoned decision regarding the aggravated life sentences given to Fırat Yıldızhan, who strangled his wife Saliha Gizem Yıldızhan with a rope during their divorce proceedings, and his brother Yağız Yıldızhan, who assisted him in burying the body, has been announced. The decision stated that there was no evidence of infidelity other than the statement of Fırat Yıldızhan, whose claim of infidelity was denied by his brother, and therefore, it was noted that unjust provocation could not be claimed.
In the Biga district of Çanakkale, Fırat Yıldızhan came to the front of the house of his estranged wife, Saliha Gizem Yıldızhan, with whom he is in the process of divorce. Yıldızhan, who said he wanted to talk, picked up Saliha Gizem in his car and headed towards Biga. A dispute broke out between the couple in the car. Fırat Yıldızhan strangled Saliha Gizem, who has two children from his first marriage, with a rope. He then buried the body in an excavation area in the Çavuşköy locality of Biga.
CONFESSED AND SHOWED THE PLACE WHERE HE BURIED THE BODY
Relatives of Saliha Gizem Yıldızhan, who could not reach her, reported the situation to the police. Police teams determined that Yıldızhan got into a car in Lapseki and left the district with Fırat Yıldızhan. The teams captured the suspect and took him into custody. In his statement, Fırat Yıldızhan confessed to the murder and showed the place where he buried the body. The police, who conducted an investigation in the area, found Saliha Gizem's lifeless body on February 18, and also took Yıldızhan's brother, Yağız Yıldızhan, into custody. The body of Saliha Gizem Yıldızhan was sent to Çanakkale Mehmet Akif Ersoy State Hospital for autopsy. After their procedures at the police station, the two brothers were referred to the courthouse and arrested.
HEAVY LIFE SENTENCE FOR THE TWO BROTHERS
After the investigation by the Çanakkale Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an indictment was filed against Fırat Yıldızhan for 'premeditated murder of a spouse' and against Yağız Yıldızhan for 'premeditated murder of a close relative,' seeking aggravated life imprisonment. The court panel sentenced Fırat Yıldızhan and his brother Yağız Yıldızhan, with whom he buried the body, to aggravated life imprisonment without any reductions.
THE BROTHER DENIED THE CHEATING ALLEGATION
The court announced its reasoned decision. The decision stated that Saliha Gizem Yıldızhan and the defendant Fırat Yıldızhan started to argue, and according to Fırat Yıldızhan's statement, Saliha Gizem said, 'I cheated on you,' but the defendant Yağız Yıldızhan stated in his first statement that he did not hear such a sentence. The decision noted that Fırat Yıldızhan became even angrier after these words, and during the investigation, he said he took the rope out of his pocket, but in court, he changed his statement and said he took it out of the car door pocket. It was emphasized that Fırat Yıldızhan stated that his brother Yağız Yıldızhan tried to stop him, yet he continued to strangle Saliha Gizem, indicating contradictions in his statement. It was noted that Fırat Yıldızhan claimed during the investigation that he killed Saliha Gizem in 15 minutes, but in court, he said it was very brief. The reasoned decision also included that Fırat said he heard a wheezing sound when he took Saliha Gizem to the back seat but did not take her to the hospital because he wanted her to die. The court expressed that there was no evidence other than Fırat Yıldızhan's claim regarding the cheating, and therefore the 'unjust provocation' reduction could not be applied. It was pointed out that Fırat Yıldızhan's guilt was established.
"DID NOT INTERVENE EVEN THOUGH HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY"
In the reasoned decision regarding Yağız Yıldızhan, it was emphasized that there were contradictions between his first statement and the defense he gave in court, as he claimed he did not intervene during the incident but stated in court that he only threw soil once. The decision noted that it was physically impossible for Fırat Yıldızhan to carry out the act alone, and that Yağız Yıldızhan was also a part of the act. In the testimony of the defendants' father, H.Y., it was stated, "Fırat, Yağız, I, and they said, 'We killed Saliha' while pulling my wife into the bedroom." It was recorded that Yağız had the opportunity to intervene in the incident but did not do so, and instead assisted in the transportation and burial of the body, returning after finding a shovel to throw more soil on it.
Considering all these actions and witness statements, the court ruled that Yağız Yıldızhan acted with the intent to commit the crime together, exceeding the status of 'aiding,' and established joint control over the act. Therefore, it was concluded that Yağız Yıldızhan was also a participant in the crime of 'intentional murder of a woman.'