02.12.2025 13:25
In Kocaeli Gölcük, 24-year-old Tuanay Çetin, who killed 65-year-old market vendor Birol Şakir Kaya with an iron rod, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the trial he was facing. When asked for his last words, the defendant said, "Birol Şakir Kaya is a person I loved very much. The man I killed is artificial intelligence, not Uncle Şakir. Uncle Şakir is definitely not dead; he has been opening the market for 7 months." He then responded to the presiding judge's announcement of the verdict with "Thank you."
In Kocaeli's Gölcük district, Tuanay Çetin (24), who killed market vendor Birol Şakir Kaya (65) with an iron rod, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the trial he was facing. When asked for his last words, the defendant said, "Birol Şakir Kaya is a person I loved very much. The man I killed is artificial intelligence, not Uncle Şakir. Uncle Şakir is definitely not dead; he has been opening the market for 7 months."
The incident occurred on June 27, 2023, at the market place in the Yüzbaşılar neighborhood of Değirmendere, Gölcük district. Substance abuser Tuanay Çetin approached market vendor Birol Şakir Kaya and asked for money. After receiving a negative response, Çetin killed Birol Şakir Kaya by hitting him on the head with an iron rod multiple times. Tuanay Çetin, who had 60 previous criminal records and was released from prison just 4 days ago for another crime, fled the scene. After being caught by the police, Tuanay Çetin was arrested following his processing. A case was opened against Tuanay Çetin for 'murder with monstrous feelings or torture' with a request for aggravated life imprisonment.
"CLAIMED HE WAS ABUSED"
In the first hearing held in December 2023 at the Kocaeli 1st Heavy Criminal Court, the detained defendant claimed that Birol Şakir Kaya had sexually abused him when he was 13 years old. Defendant Çetin stated, "I never told my family about this incident. I was afraid to tell my family. I couldn't tell anyone because I was afraid they would ostracize me." During the sentencing hearing, the detained defendant Çetin participated via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS), while the children of the deceased Kaya and the attorneys for both sides were present in the courtroom. The children of Birol Şakir Kaya, who were heard during the hearing, demanded that the defendant receive the heaviest sentence.
"YOUR FATHER IS NOT DEAD"
Before the verdict, when asked for his last words, defendant Tuanay Çetin said, "Birol Şakir Kaya is a person I loved very much. The man I killed is artificial intelligence, not Uncle Şakir. Uncle Şakir is definitely not dead; he has been opening the market for 7 months." Addressing Kaya's children, the defendant said, "Your father is not dead."
SAID "THANK YOU" TO THE JUDGE
The defendant's lawyer stated that they believed the defendant did not have criminal responsibility and requested his acquittal. The court sentenced the defendant to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of 'murder with monstrous feelings or torture.' The defendant said "Thank you" to the presiding judge who announced the verdict.