14.04.2026 13:20
In Kastamonu, Berkan Civil's defense, who lived in the same house for about 10 days with the corpse of his 8-month pregnant wife, whom he killed, and their 1.5-year-old child, left everyone stunned. Claiming he did not remember the moment of the incident due to a cigarette given by his neighbor, Civil said, 'All I remember is that I slept with my wife's corpse for 8 days.'
On April 21, 2025, a report of foul odors coming from an apartment on Arnavut Street in İnönü Neighborhood of Kastamonu led to the discovery of the lifeless body of Elif Civil, who was 34 weeks pregnant. It was determined that Elif Civil was killed by 12 stab wounds to her body and that the corpse had been in the house for more than 10 days. Following the incident, teams from the Kastamonu Provincial Police Department took action and captured the deceased woman's husband, Berkan Civil (29), together with their 1.5-year-old child İ.C., in Nasrullah Square. Berkan Civil, who was taken into custody, was arrested.
After the incident, a case was filed against Berkan Civil at the Kastamonu Heavy Penal Court for the crime of "intentional killing of a spouse". In the first hearing of the case, witnesses and party lawyers were present, while the defendant participated in the hearing via SEGBİS.
"I WAS NOT IN MY RIGHT MIND, ALL I REMEMBER IS SLEEPING WITH MY WIFE'S CORPSE" Making his defense in court, Berkan Civil said, "Before the incident, I called my next-door neighbor M.Ç. on the phone. I told him I couldn't go to the market and asked him to buy bread and cigarettes on his way home. He knocked on the door, I opened it and took the bread and cigarettes. I also gave him the money. I don't remember anything after smoking the cigarette. I don't know if drugs showed up in my tests. I was not in my right mind for 4 days. When I woke up, there was a cut on my throat and cuts on my stomach. All I remember is sleeping with my wife's corpse for 8 days. Since I didn't have my phone, I couldn't call. I was injured, and my wife was killed. I didn't have my phone, I couldn't find it. That's why I couldn't call anyone. When I woke up after smoking the cigarette, my throat was cut. My shirt was also covered in blood. I was scared, so I couldn't call or inform anyone. I fell asleep for 4 days. I was scared, I thought I would lose my child, that's why I didn't call. My wife and I would have disagreements from time to time. We had problems like in every family. I did not physically abuse my wife. My heart is burning, I lost my child, my wife. The only thing I remember is T.Ş. coming to the door and leaving bread and cigarettes, and then when I saw him a while later, he answered, 'I told you so'. The incident came to light 10 days later. I don't know if drugs showed up in my blood values."
"EVEN IF I WAS NOT IN MY RIGHT MIND, I WAS IN A CONDITION TO CARE FOR MY CHILD" The defendant, claiming that his DNA on the knife found in the house might have been there because he had previously used it for household chores, said, "I didn't have any debts anywhere. I didn't have any enmity with anyone. I am a person who minds his own business, my poor wife also didn't have any enmity with anyone. I go to painting and tiling jobs, and I also work at a coffeehouse in the evenings. I saw my wife's corpse at home for 8 days. I don't remember how I got injured. When I woke up, my throat was cut and my shirt was covered in blood. I never went outside for 8 days until the day I was caught. I didn't use any substances. They say I fought with my wife 15 days before the incident. I don't accept this. If our neighbors heard us fighting, why didn't they call the police?"
Responding to the question from the lawyer participating in the hearing on behalf of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, "You say you couldn't come to your senses for 4 days. Who provided care for your 1.5-year-old child, can you explain this?", the defendant said, "I took care of my child. I am the father, even if I lost consciousness, I could take care of my child. Even if I was not in my right mind or don't remember, I was in a condition to care for my child."
"I DON'T KNOW HIS WIFE'S NAME, I LEFT THE CIGARETTES IN THE SHOE RACK" Neighbor T.Ş., heard as a witness, also stated, "I had a friendship with the defendant for 3 months. He was my neighbor across the hall. I didn't know about the incident. I was in Ankara on the day he was caught. I never even went to his house for a cup of tea. I don't know his wife's name. He came to my house once and sat for 5 minutes and left. He didn't mention any problem with his wife. I saw his wife twice. One night, their voices came, I heard them fighting. From time to time, I would buy cigarettes and give them to Berkan. It came from my heart. The last time I bought and gave him cigarettes was 10 days before the incident. It was a pack of cigarettes. There was a shoe rack in front of the door, I left it there. I had bought two packs of cigarettes, I gave one to Berkan and kept the other for myself. He hadn't asked me for cigarettes. I didn't call and tell him, he was taking it from where I left it."
CIVIL'S REACTION: "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO MY WIFE?" After T.Ş.'s statement, Berkan Civil reacted by saying, "How could you do this to me, how could you kill my wife?", and said, "I wish for justice to be served. I don't care if her family files a complaint. I was more devoted to my wife than they were. Let the necessary investigation be conducted. I trust justice. My two hands will be on T.Ş.'s collar. I lost my wife, my child became an orphan. Let everything be investigated. Until yesterday, her family was not in our lives. Shame on them. And now they are testifying."
"THERE WAS RENT DEBT, A BAD SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE APARTMENT" Berkan Civil's landlord S.G. also said, "I never saw Elif. The defendant had rent debt, they couldn't pay. He said they would leave in April. When April came, I called for 2 weeks but couldn't reach him. I also called the manager. I explained the situation. We went up to the apartment with the manager. There was a smell, so we called the police."
"'TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER, WE WILL KILL HER' THEY SAID" Elif Civil's father İ.Ç. also said, "The last time we met face to face was a year ago in Istanbul. We didn't know about what happened. Three months before the incident, the defendant's mother and father called us and said, 'take your daughter and leave, we will throw an axe, we will kill her, they can't get along'. We also called our daughter and asked about her situation, they said 'no problem, we are fine'. I want him to be punished in the most severe way."
The court panel, which also heard the defendant's family and party lawyers, adjourned the hearing to a later date for the deficiencies in the file to be remedied.