11.07.2025 20:15
Emre Ali Önder, who caused the death of former national basketball player İlkan Karaman by hitting him with his car while he was trying to cross the road in the Datça district of Muğla, was sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison for the crime of 'causing death by negligence.'
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Ilkan Karaman, who played for many teams in the Basketball Super League for years and also wore the jersey of the A National Team for a period, rented a house in Datça, Muğla. Karaman also moved his belongings from Izmir to Datça.
HE LOST HIS LIFE WHILE TRYING TO CROSS THE ROAD
On September 8 last year, around 02:30, Karaman, who wanted to cross the road in front of a gas station here, was hit by a car driven by construction engineer Emre Ali Önder. Karaman, who was injured in the accident, could not be saved at Marmaris State Hospital where he was taken. Önder, who fled after the accident, was caught two hours later in front of Datça State Hospital. During his examination, it was determined that he had a blood alcohol level of 1.19 promille, and Önder was arrested.
"I WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT"
In his statement to the prosecutor's office, Emre Ali Önder stated that he had consumed 2 beers with a high alcohol content at home and said, "After that, I went out to traffic to get my mother's sleeping pills. When I arrived at the intersection in Reşadiye Neighborhood, I pressed the brake because I was going to pass the traffic lights. As soon as I pressed the brake, the car started to skid. Therefore, I hit the median and lost control of the steering wheel, crossing into the opposite lane. At that moment, I learned that a person I did not know, whose name I later learned, lost his life. After the accident, citizens came to the scene and helped us. I went to Datça State Hospital because I was injured. My intention was not to flee the scene. While I was in the hospital, police teams came and arrested me. I was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. I am sorry for what happened," he said.
THE DRIVER WAS FOUND TO BE AT FAULT
After the investigation conducted by the Datça Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an indictment was prepared against Emre Ali Önder for the crime of 'causing death by conscious negligence', with a request for a prison sentence of 2 to 9 years. The indictment stated that in the report prepared by the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Traffic Specialization Department, Önder was found to be primarily at fault due to his failure to exercise due care and attention, while Karaman had no fault.
FAILED TO COMPLY WITH DUTIES OF CARE AND ATTENTION
Considering that Emre Ali Önder's report taken approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes after the incident indicated a blood alcohol level of 1.19 promille, it was understood that his alcohol level was higher at the time of the incident. He stated in his testimony that he consumed beer with a high alcohol content before going out into traffic, and it was necessary for him to foresee the resulting consequences. In this context, it was expressed that the suspect acted with conscious negligence. When all the evidence and the entire file were evaluated together, it was concluded that the suspect committed the crime of 'causing death by conscious negligence' by driving with a blood alcohol level higher than 1.19 promille and failing to comply with his duties of care and attention, resulting in the death of Ilkan Karaman.
A WARRANT FOR ARREST WAS ISSUED
Emre Ali Önder appeared before the judge for the first time on January 10 at the Datça Criminal Court of First Instance. Relatives and lawyers of Ilkan Karaman and Emre Ali Önder attended the hearing where Önder was present. In his defense, Önder expressed his regret for what had happened. The court, considering the time Önder had spent in prison, decided to release him under the condition of reporting to the police station twice a week and a travel ban. Following this, the Datça Chief Public Prosecutor's Office appealed the decision. An arrest warrant was issued for Önder by the Muğla 3rd High Criminal Court, which evaluated the appeal. Önder surrendered to the Muğla Courthouse. Önder was arrested by the court he was brought before.
5 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS IN PRISON
The trial of the detained defendant Emre Ali Önder continued today with the second hearing. The hearing was attended by the lawyers and relatives of Ilkan Karaman and Emre Ali Önder. After the parties were asked for their final statements, the court panel decided to sentence the defendant Önder to 5 years and 4 months in prison for the crime of 'causing death by negligence.'
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