21.10.2025 16:51
Sedat Peker reacted to the decision regarding the 24-year prison sentence given to two defendants in the case of 15-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi, as well as the acquittal of the other two defendants. Stating that "the conscience of society has been deeply wounded," Peker expressed that he found the prosecutor's appeal justified and believed that the higher court would overturn the decision.
The decision in the case regarding the stabbing murder of 15-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi in Kadıköy has sparked significant controversy. The court sentenced the defendants B.B. and U.B. to 24 years in prison for the crime of "intentional murder of a child," while it acquitted M.A.D. and A.Ö.
PEKER: DEEPLY WOUND THE CONSCIENCE OF SOCIETY
In relation to this controversial decision, Sedat Peker, who appointed lawyer Ersan Bakır for the Minguzzi case, made a notable statement. Peker stated, "The reactions from the entire public show that the court's decision to convict two individuals while acquitting the other two has deeply wounded the conscience of society. Such situations can trigger the public's instinct to seek their own justice."
SUPPORT FOR APPEALING THE DECISION
Peker also supported the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's appeal against the decision, saying, "The Chief Prosecutor's appeal against the decision is valuable and appropriate, as the entire public has stated. As my esteemed lawyer, Ersan Barkın, has indicated, I have no doubt that the higher court will overturn this decision."
ERSAN BARKIN: THERE WERE TWO SEPARATE CASES IN THIS CASE
After the hearing, Minguzzi family's lawyer Ersan Barkın, who made a statement in front of the courthouse, said, "There were two separate cases within this case. The first of these cases was the intentional murder of a child, and the second case was the one that was merged in the last hearing. The prosecution requested the punishment of all defendants by accepting that they all participated in the act. However, while the court sentenced two defendants to 24 years in prison, despite our presentation of camera footage and all material evidence, it acquitted the other two defendants due to lack of evidence."
"IT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE DECISION"
Pointing out the security measures taken around the courthouse, Barkın stated, "Today, unprecedented security measures were taken around and inside this courthouse in Turkish political history. Of course, the measures are acceptable, but the moment I saw the security measures, I understood that this would not be a ruling that would meet the national conscience. The decision made as a result of this case is not an acceptable decision. We certainly think that these decisions will be overturned because it is contrary to a century-old tradition of trial, and it is absolutely unacceptable. We will send it to the higher court. While this is a case file, it is also a precedent for all of our children; unfortunately, we could not succeed in this precedent. The decision given is not an acceptable decision, and therefore we believe that this decision will be overturned by the higher courts, and we will immediately initiate the appeal process. It is not a decision that can be legally explained," he said.