21.10.2025 14:40
In the case of the murder of Ahmet Minguzzi, two defendants were sentenced to the maximum of 24 years in prison. The court acquitted and ordered the release of the other two defendants. Lawyer Ersan Barkın, who made a statement regarding the controversial decisions, said, "Despite our presentation to the court of how the four defendants surrounded the child, two defendants were released due to lack of evidence. We will appeal the release."
On January 24, in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul, the verdict was announced in the case of Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi (14), who was stabbed to death by his peers at a market where he went to buy skateboarding equipment.
The court sentenced two of the four defendants to the maximum penalty. B.B. and U.B. were sentenced to 24 years in prison for the crime of "intentional killing of a child." No reduction for unjust provocation was applied. The other two defendants, M.A.D. and A.Ö., were acquitted and released.
APPEAL AGAINST ACQUITTAL DECISIONS
The lawyer of the Minguzzi family, Ersan Barkın, reacted to the acquittal decision given for the two defendants.
Lawyer Barkın stated that despite the clear involvement of the two defendants in the act, they were acquitted and released due to lack of evidence, saying, "This decision is unacceptable. We are confident that this decision will be overturned by higher courts. We will immediately start our appeals."
"ACQUITTAL DECISIONS CANNOT BE LEGALLY ACCEPTED"
Barkın continued his statement, saying, "About 9 months have passed since the loss. The first of these cases was opened regarding the intentional killing of a child by the two defendants. Despite all the evidence we presented showing that the two defendants committed the crime of intentional killing and that the other defendant assisted them; a 24-year prison sentence was given to the two defendants, while the other two defendants, who were clearly involved in the incident, were ordered to be released. Dear citizens, the moment I saw these security measures, I understood that this ruling would not meet the national conscience. The acquittal decisions given as a result of this trial are not legally acceptable decisions. We are confident that these decisions will be overturned by higher courts. This case file is not only a case but also a precedent for all of us to protect our children's safety on the streets. We hope this will be overturned by the higher court. We believe that there is no legally justifiable decision."
"I ONLY TRUST DIVINE JUSTICE NOW"
Mother Minguzzi, in her final statement after the verdict, said, "I only trust divine justice now, that’s all."