25.07.2025 18:26
The justification for the 15-year prison sentence given to the murderer who killed 14-year-old Hacer Çağla Çetinalp in Karabağlar, İzmir, with over 100 knife wounds has been announced. In the reasoned decision, it was stated that the defendant had planned the murder in advance; that he had made searches on the internet for terms like "things that leave blood stains" and "gun prices," and that he had prepared a shopping list that included tools such as "axe," "machete," and "drill."
On June 15, 2024, 14-year-old Hacer Çağla Çetinalp, a graduate of Şerif Remzi Middle School living in the Karabağlar district of İzmir, met with her 15-year-old ex-boyfriend U.E.Y. at the home of her police officer father, İ.U.Ç., in the Arab Hasan neighborhood in the evening hours.
KILLED WITH OVER 100 STAB WOUNDS
A dispute arose between Çetinalp and U.E.Y. due to 'jealousy'. During this time, U.E.Y. stabbed Çağla Çetinalp with over 100 stab wounds. Çetinalp was found lying on the floor in a pool of blood by her father İ.U.Ç., who had returned home. Health officials who were called confirmed that Hacer Çağla Çetinalp had died. The police detained U.E.Y. and İ.U.Ç. as suspects. U.E.Y. was taken to the Child Branch Directorate. After the procedures, the suspects were referred to the courthouse on June 16, where U.E.Y. was arrested, and İ.U.Ç. was released.
VERDICT IN THE CASE
After the investigation conducted by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a case was opened against U.E.Y. for the crime of 'premeditated murder of a child or a person who cannot defend themselves physically or mentally' with a request for aggravated life imprisonment. The indictment was accepted by the İzmir 2nd Children's Heavy Criminal Court, and the hearings were held behind closed doors. A verdict was reached in the hearing held on July 16. The panel sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment, but due to his age, the sentence was reduced to the maximum limit of 15 years in prison.
PREMEDIATED MURDER OF ÇAĞLA
The reasoning for the decision regarding U.E.Y. was also announced. The decision stated that about two months before the incident, U.E.Y. decided to kill Çetinalp and made internet searches for terms like 'things that leave blood stains', 'gun prices', 'weapons', 'Izmir gun shop', and 'latex-free gloves'. It was emphasized that U.E.Y. made a shopping list that included items such as 'axe', 'machete', 'hammer', 'saw', 'knife set', and 'electric drill', and also visited pages on forums that included topics like 'strangling to death', 'why do people who are having a fit prefer to strangle', 'I have a fetish for strangling to death', and 'the art of killing with bare hands'.
It was noted in the decision that U.E.Y. told Çetinalp, 'I have a surprise for you. Go to your room and wait for me,' before committing the murder. It was also highlighted that U.E.Y. purchased cleaning gloves on the day of the incident. The panel stated that in light of this evidence, U.E.Y. made a plan on how to carry out the act of killing Çetinalp and acted accordingly, committing the act of premeditated murder.
MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 15 YEARS IN PRISON DUE TO AGE
The panel emphasized in the reasoned decision that U.E.Y. did not commit the act under 'unjust provocation' and therefore did not apply any reductions for 'unjust provocation'. It was stated that U.E.Y. repeatedly injured Çetinalp with a cutting and piercing tool while she was still alive and that he was found to have committed the crime of 'murder with monstrous feelings or by inflicting torture'. It was noted that U.E.Y. committed the crime of 'intentional murder of a child' by killing Çetinalp, who was 14 years old at the time of the incident. It was decided that U.E.Y. committed the crime of 'intentional murder of a child and woman by premeditated torture' and was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, but due to being in the age group of 12-15 at the time of the crime and having no criminal capacity, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison without reduction according to Article 31 of the Turkish Penal Code regarding 'minor age'.