05.02.2026 18:24
In the case of the armed attack that resulted in the deaths of Mayor Hilmi Şen and his bodyguard Mikayil Çelikkol in the Balışeyh district of Kırıkkale, the defendant Erdem Çelebi Şen was sentenced to life imprisonment with aggravated conditions and 43 years in prison.
Erdem Çelebi Şen (37), who killed Mayor Hilmi Şen (51) of Balışeyh district in Kırıkkale and his bodyguard Mikayil Çelikkol (40), and injured 2 others, was sentenced to one aggravated life sentence and 43 years in prison.
HE HAD KILLED THE MAYOR AND HIS BODYGUARD
Hilmi Şen, who was elected mayor from the New Welfare Party in the local elections on March 31, 2024, resigned from his party in July 2024. Continuing his duties as an independent, Hilmi Şen was attacked by his cousin Erdem Çelebi Şen while on his way to a construction site in his official vehicle in the district center on November 4, 2024. Mayor Şen and his bodyguard Mikayil Çelikkol lost their lives, while Koray Kaya (45) and Ömer Şengül (42), who were in the car, were injured.
INDICTMENT PREPARED
After the incident, the suspect was captured and arrested by the court he was brought to at the courthouse. The Public Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment against the defendant for 'premeditated murder of a person due to their public duty' with an aggravated life sentence, 'intentional murder' with a life sentence, and 'attempted murder' with a prison sentence of 9 to 15 years. The indictment was accepted by the 2nd Heavy Criminal Court.
"I REGRET WHAT I DID"
In the hearing held at the Kırıkkale 2nd Heavy Criminal Court, the detained defendant Erdem Çelebi Şen, the lawyers of the parties, and the relatives of the deceased Mayor Şen and bodyguard Mikayil Çelikkol attended. When asked for his last words, the detained defendant Erdem Şen said, "I regret what I did. I am repeating my previous defenses."
After hearing the defenses of the party lawyers, the court sentenced the defendant to an aggravated life sentence for the charge of 'premeditated murder of a person due to their public duty' against Mayor Hilmi Şen, and a life sentence for the charge of 'intentional murder' against Çelikkol.
AGGRAVATED LIFE SENTENCE AND 43 YEARS IN PRISON
The court also sentenced the defendant to 43 years in prison for the charge of 'attempted murder' against Ömer Şengül, the driver Koray Kaya, and municipal employees Kubilay Şen and Ümüt Kaplan, who were with Mayor Şen during the attack. The defendant was acquitted regarding Özgür Akyel, who was injured after panicking and falling during the incident. Additionally, the defendant was sentenced to 1 year in prison and a fine of 3,000 lira for 'violating Law No. 6136.'