20.01.2026 21:57
Halil Tezkorkmaz, who killed his ex-wife Demet Akarsu with 31 knife stabs, appeared before the judge in the Çiğli district of İzmir. During the hearing, Tezkorkmaz stated, "I do not remember the moments I stabbed her," while tension arose in the courtroom. The panel decided to continue the defendant's detention, ruled to hear witnesses, and postponed the hearing to March 24.
Halil Tezkorkmaz (46), who stabbed and killed his ex-wife Demet Akarsu (45) in the Çiğli district of İzmir, appeared before the judge. During the tense hearing, the defendant said, "I do not remember the moments I stabbed her."
The incident occurred on July 19 at around 07:30 in a house on 8953 Street in the Balatçık neighborhood of Çiğli. A dispute broke out between Halil Tezkorkmaz and Demet Akarsu, from whom he divorced in June. As the argument escalated, Tezkorkmaz stabbed Akarsu multiple times.
SHE LOST HER LIFE
Upon receiving a tip from neighbors, police and medical teams were dispatched to the scene. After the first intervention, Akarsu was taken to Bakırçay University Çiğli Training and Research Hospital. Despite the interventions, Akarsu, who was injured with 31 stab wounds, could not be saved. Halil Tezkorkmaz, who was found to have obtained a restraining order against him, was taken into custody at the scene with the weapon used in the crime. After his procedures at the police station, Tezkorkmaz was referred to the courthouse, where he was arrested by the court. It was also determined that Tezkorkmaz had numerous criminal records for offenses such as carrying an unlicensed firearm, intentional injury, and intentional murder.
"AGGRAVATED LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS SOUGHT"
After the investigation initiated following the incident was completed, an indictment was prepared. The indictment stated that Tezkorkmaz stabbed Demet in various parts of her body with a knife he took from the kitchen. It was also noted in the indictment that the defendant took a photo of Demet lying on the ground in a pool of blood and sent it to Demet's sister. After receiving the message, Demet's sister called the defendant, who replied, "What happened, I killed your sister. It's your turn now, get ready." The indictment, prepared with a request for aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of "murder with monstrous feelings and inflicting torture," was accepted by the Karşıyaka 2nd High Criminal Court.
"I DO NOT REMEMBER THOSE MOMENTS"
Defendant Tezkorkmaz appeared before the judge for the first time today at the Karşıyaka 2nd High Criminal Court. In addition to the defendant, Akarsu's relatives and lawyers also attended the hearing. After the identification and reading of the indictment, the detained defendant was given the floor for his defense. Tezkorkmaz stated, "We decided to get married in 2020. Our first 5 years went very well. Demet was my sensitive point, and I loved her very much. I never thought something like this would happen. Demet had an alcohol problem. Her mother and sister did not want me. These things happened because of the pressure from Demet's family. I had washed the knife and put it on the edge of the sink. She tried to attack me with the knife. I tried to escape. I do not remember the moments I stabbed her," while asserting that his statement given during the prosecution phase was correct. When asked by the victim's lawyer why he sent the photo of Demet in a pool of blood to her sister, Tezkorkmaz said he did not want to answer.
TENSION OCCURRED
After the defendant, Demet's sister Dilek Hınıslı was given the floor. Hınıslı said, "I did not want the marriage and did not attend their wedding. The defendant's grudge against me is because of that. My sister was systematically subjected to violence. She could not go and file a complaint due to her fear. After my sister filed for divorce, they constantly called Demet to reconcile." At this point, the defendant shouted, "Do not lie," causing a brief tension in the courtroom, and some spectators were removed from the hall.
The court president recorded that if Tezkorkmaz spoke again without being given the floor, he would be removed from the courtroom, stating that the defendant disrupted the order of the hearing. After the tension subsided, Hınıslı continued her speech, saying, "Despite the restraining order, he always monitored my sister. Due to his threats, my sister sought refuge with us. Whatever grudge he held, he killed my sister with 31 stab wounds. He called me from my sister's phone and said, 'Demet is dead, it's your turn. Get ready.' We immediately went to the police station to report the situation. While we were on our way to the address, he called again and started cursing," and stated that she was filing a complaint.
"HE TORTURED AND KILLED MY DAUGHTER"
During the session, Demet's mother Suna Polat, who was given the floor, could not hold back her tears. Polat said, "He constantly beat my daughter. When my daughter called me, she said, 'Mom, hurry, he will kill me.' I went to visit my daughter in the hospital, and out of fear, she could not even tell me what the defendant had done. He constantly tortured my daughter. I could not sleep at night thinking my daughter would call me. He always provoked and deceived my daughter. He took revenge on my daughter and killed my baby with torture."
POSTPONED
After the defenses and statements, an interim decision was announced. The panel, which decided to continue the defendant's detention, ruled to hear witnesses and postponed the hearing to March 24.