05.02.2025 16:23
In Eyüpsultan, the trial has begun regarding the murder of school principal İbrahim Oktugan, who was shot dead. The student who shot the principal stated in his defense, "I experienced racism; anyone who was provoked would have gone through this incident."
```html
On May 7, 2024, the trial regarding the murder of school principal İbrahim Oktugan, who was shot in his office, began in the Eyüpsultan district of Istanbul. During the hearing at the Istanbul 1st Heavy Penal Court, detained Yousif K., who was a child involved in the crime at the time of the incident, and the family of the deceased İbrahim Oktugan were present as "complainants." Two other children involved in the crime, who are not detained, and the defendant Muhammed Günay G., along with the parties' lawyers, also attended the court.
"WHOEVER IS PROVOKED WOULD EXPERIENCE THIS INCIDENT"
In his defense, Yousif K. stated that he is a person who constantly uses a weapon, saying, "Defendant Muhammed Günay provoked me; otherwise, I would not kill anyone. I experienced racism; whoever is provoked would experience this incident. I was not expelled from school; this is in my E-school system. When they saw me at school, they did not open the door."
"A PERSON WHO CARRIES A WEAPON ALL THE TIME"
Defendant Muhammed Günay G. stated in his defense, "Yousif K. confronted İbrahim Hoca at school and approached him aggressively. I was afraid he would make a wrong move. I do not agree with his statements that I provoked him. A person who constantly does such things and carries a weapon, I did not provoke him in any way."
"WHAT DID MY HUSBAND DO TO DESERVE THIS?"
The wife of the deceased İbrahim Oktugan, Fatma Oktugan, said, "My husband served this country and many students for 56 years. He loved his children and his country very much; he was someone who touched everyone's life. I am a retired teacher; I have never heard any bad words from my husband. He was a very enlightened person; he taught all teachers. They called him a martyr, but he was not given martyrdom. What did he do to deserve this? I am a complainant. I want my husband's blood not to be left on the ground."
ALLEGATION OF BEING OVER 18 YEARS OLD
The lawyer of the complainant Oktugan family, İbrahim Ethem Abikoğlu, stated that the defendant was born in Iraq and expressed that he might be over 18 years old at the time of the murder, adding that they requested a report from the Forensic Medicine Institution for bone age determination.
BIRTH REPORT REQUESTED
The court, announcing its interim decision, decided to inquire whether there are documents such as a birth report from the Population Directorate regarding the detained child involved in the crime, Yousif K., and ruled for the continuation of his detention. The panel also ordered the viewing of camera footage related to the incident at the next hearing and adjourned the trial.
"LEFT BEHIND A GRIEVING WIFE, A CHILD, A YOUNG MAN"
After the hearing, İbrahim Ethem Abikoğlu, the lawyer of the Oktugan family, stated, "The trial will continue in the upcoming process, and witnesses will be heard in the next session. We have requests for a report to be obtained regarding the defendant who committed the act, especially concerning the determination of bone age. Therefore, we have an assertion that he is over 18 years old. We requested his referral to the Forensic Medicine Institution regarding this. After the court conducts research on this matter, an interim decision will be made, and eyewitnesses of the incident will be heard. Besides this, we lost a very valuable statesman. He left behind a grieving wife, a child, and a young man. Their only expectation from this point on is justice. At this stage, our trust in justice is infinite."
FROM THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was requested that Yousif K. be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 19 to 27 years for the crimes of "premeditated murder due to the performance of a public duty" and "possession of an unlicensed firearm." It was also requested that the two children involved in the crime, A.S. and A.A., be sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison for the crime of "aiding in premeditated murder due to the performance of a public duty." In the indictment prepared with a request for consolidation, it was requested that Muhammed Günay G. be sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison for the crime of "aiding in premeditated murder due to the performance of a public duty."
```