30.05.2025 21:30
A verdict has been announced in the case regarding the death of 33-year-old Duygu Bölükbaş, whose body was found hanging on a towel rack in the bathroom of her home in the Bornova district of İzmir on November 3, 2022, along with her boyfriend. The boyfriend, who was tried with a request for "aggravated life imprisonment," was acquitted based on the principle of "in case of doubt, the defendant benefits." The İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has appealed the decision.
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33-year-old Duygu Bölükbaş was found hanging with a towel rack in the bathroom of the house she shared with her boyfriend Emre T. on November 3, 2022, in the Bornova district of Izmir. After the incident, Emre T. and his aunt S.T., who were questioned, stated that Bölükbaş had committed suicide.
DNA OF HER BOYFRIEND WAS FOUND UNDER HER NAILS
In the report obtained from the Biology Specialization Department of the Izmir Forensic Medicine Branch as part of the investigation, it was stated that DNA belonging to Bölükbaş was found in her nail samples and on her t-shirt. Following this, 30-year-old Emre T. was detained on March 22, 2024, and arrested.
REQUEST FOR AGGRAVATED LIFE IMPRISONMENT
The Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment against the defendant for 'intentional murder against a woman' seeking 'aggravated life imprisonment', and for the defendant's aunt S.T. for 'false testimony' seeking up to 4 years in prison.
APPEARED AT THE VERDICT HEARING
The verdict hearing of the case held at the Izmir 3rd High Criminal Court was attended by the detained defendant Emre T., the aunt S.T. who was not detained, as well as the relatives of the victim and the lawyers of the parties.
GRIEVING MOTHER REQUESTED A PRECEDENT DECISION
Duygu Bölükbaş's mother, Nuriye Bölükbaş, who spoke at the hearing, stated that a precedent decision should be made. Father Selahattin Bölükbaş also expressed that he expected the defendants to receive the punishment they deserved.
"OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS NOT BAD"
Aunt S.T., who was charged with 'false testimony' and faced up to 4 years in prison, denied the accusations against her. Detained defendant Emre T. claimed in his final defense that he had a 1 year and 4 months relationship with Duygu Bölükbaş, and although they had occasional disagreements, their relationship was not bad.
"I TRIED TO KEEP HER ALIVE"
The defendant, who denied the accusations, stated, "The DNA traces found under Duygu's nails are due to us being married. They are playing with my life. I performed artificial respiration; what more could I do to keep her alive? No matter what decision is made, I have respect. Our conscience is clear. I did not kill anyone, I did not take a life. God is enough for us. I say these words to her father. I swear to God that I did not kill your daughter. I only tried to keep her alive. I am not a murderer."
VERDICT ANNOUNCED
The presiding judge stated that they formed a legal and moral decision by impartially evaluating all the evidence, statements, and defenses in the case file without being influenced by news in the media and social media, and that it is an undeniable fact that a judgment would be made in accordance with the constitution, laws, justice, and law.
ACQUITTAL DECISION FOR THE AUNT
Later, the sentences for the defendants were announced. The presiding judge stated that they acquitted S.T. because no concrete evidence was found that she knowingly and willingly lied.
ACQUITTED UNDER THE "INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY" PRINCIPLE
Emphasizing that they concluded it would not be possible for Duygu Bölükbaş to have been hanged by someone else, considering the distance between the towel rack and the ground, the presiding judge stated that due to the 112 records and phone examinations, no concrete, definitive, and convincing evidence was obtained against the defendant Emre T., and thus, using their moral judgment, they acquitted him under the "innocent until proven guilty" principle. Bölükbaş's family reacted to the decision made in the courtroom.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE APPEALED
The acquittal decision was appealed by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In a statement from the prosecutor's office, it was noted, "In the case of Duygu Bölükbaş, which is being heard in the relevant High Criminal Court, the prosecution requested aggravated life imprisonment for Emre T., who is being tried in detention for the crime of intentional murder. In the verdict hearing of the case, the court decided on Emre T.'s acquittal due to lack of evidence, and the public prosecutor immediately appealed this decision and sought recourse to the Court of Appeals."
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