12.12.2025 18:30
The trial of Erdeniz Köroğlu, who stabbed and killed two siblings and their grandmother returning from a wedding in Zonguldak, has begun. The defendant claimed that he attacked with a knife in self-defense. In his defense at the court, he stated, "I do not deny it, but they tried to choke me and attacked me; I was out of breath and dying. I stabbed to escape, but am I a butcher or a murderer to do it for no reason?"
In Zonguldak, the trial of Erdeniz Köroğlu, who stabbed and killed Halil Can Köroğlu (24), his brother Emirkan (18), and their grandmother Nazmiye Köroğlu (75) while returning from a wedding in the village, has begun. In court, the defendant, who claims to have acted in self-defense, stated, "I do not deny it, but they tried to strangle me and attacked me; I was suffocating and dying. I stabbed to escape, but am I a butcher or a monster to do it for no reason?"
The incident occurred on July 21 in Köroğlu village, which is affiliated with Zonguldak city center. A month before the incident, Erdeniz Köroğlu's brother E.K. was assaulted by Halil Can Köroğlu, Emirkan Köroğlu, and some of their relatives at the village coffee house. This led to a feud between the two families.
TENSION BEGAN AFTER THE WEDDING
On the night of the incident, when the Köroğlu brothers attended a wedding in an open area in the village, they encountered Erdeniz Köroğlu, the brother of the assaulted E.K., which led to a dispute after the wedding. Erdeniz Köroğlu attacked the two brothers with a knife. At that moment, their grandmother Nazmiye Köroğlu, who was trying to protect her grandchildren, was also injured by knife wounds.
GRANDMOTHER AND 2 GRANDCHILDREN DIED
As Erdeniz Köroğlu was going home, the two brothers and their grandmother collapsed to the ground. With the notification of the surrounding people to the 112 Emergency Call Center, gendarmerie and medical personnel were dispatched to the area. Relatives, not waiting for the ambulance, transported the injured in their private vehicles. The injured were taken to Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Hospital and Atatürk State Hospital by health workers encountered on the road. Halil Can Köroğlu, his brother Emirkan, and their grandmother Nazmiye Köroğlu died in the hospital. Erdeniz Köroğlu was later caught and arrested by the court he was brought to.
THE ATTACKER DEFENDED HIMSELF LIKE THIS
A lawsuit was filed against Erdeniz Köroğlu for 'intentional murder' with a request for aggravated life imprisonment after he killed three of his relatives. The first hearing of the case was held at the Zonguldak 2nd High Criminal Court. Relatives of the deceased, the detained defendant, and lawyers were present at the hearing. Spectators wishing to enter the hearing formed a queue in the courthouse. Police teams took security measures inside and around the building against possible negative incidents. The defendant Erdeniz Köroğlu claimed that he was attacked during the incident and tried to defend himself, stating, "At the time of the incident, E.K. insulted my wife severely. Halil Can and Emirkan came cursing. They all attacked me. I do not deny that I stabbed, but they pushed me to the ground, tried to strangle me, and attacked me; I was suffocating and dying. I stabbed to escape, but am I a butcher or a monster to do it for no reason? It was for self-defense."
12 WITNESSES WERE HEARD
Relatives of the deceased, who participated in the case as complainants, stated that there was no feud between them and expressed their desire for the defendant to receive the heaviest penalty. Additionally, 12 people were heard as witnesses during the hearing. In response to witness statements, mother Fatma Köroğlu said, "When I approached Erdeniz, I saw the knife glinting. While I was saying 'What have you done?', he also swung the knife at me. If Erdeniz wanted to save himself, he would hit my son in the arm or leg, but he stabbed my child in the heart. We had no feud with anyone. I did not insult or curse anyone."
THE HEARING WAS ADJOURNED
The defendant's lawyers stated that they had no requests for release at this stage. The court panel decided to continue the defendant's detention and adjourned the hearing to hear the witnesses whose statements had not been taken. Outside the courthouse, as the defendant was taken to the transport vehicle, the relatives of the deceased reacted.