18.02.2025 17:41
The defendant Gökhan Eller, who strangled his wife during their divorce proceedings, appeared in court for the second time. The couple's 21-year-old daughter stated in court that while watching a program about femicide on television, her father said, "This will be our end too, you will take care of me inside."
In the Güzelyurt neighborhood of the Yunusemre district in Manisa, the defendant Gökhan Eller (40), who strangled his wife Selda Eller (40) with a piece of cloth during their divorce process, appeared before the judge for the second time. The second hearing of the case at the Manisa 4th High Criminal Court was attended by the detained defendant Gökhan Eller, his relatives, the victim Selda Eller’s mother Zehra Can Şahin, father Mustafa Durmaz, daughter Rabia Nur Eller, as well as lawyers from both sides and representatives from civil society organizations. During the court session, the couple's daughter Rabia Nur Eller (21) testified as a witness.
"MY DAD SAID, 'THIS IS HOW IT WILL END WITH YOUR MOM, YOU WILL TAKE CARE OF ME INSIDE'"
Rabia Nur Eller stated in her testimony that she did not witness the murder and learned about the incident through her grandmother's phone. She explained that her parents had been constantly arguing and fighting, which led to their decision to divorce. She recounted that on the morning of the incident, while preparing to leave the house, her father, who was watching a daytime program about "female murders" on the living room television, told her, "This is how it will end with your mom, you will take care of me inside." Rabia Nur Eller mentioned that there was severe incompatibility between her parents, with both sides accusing each other of "cheating." She said, "Both sides were insulting each other during the arguments, both were cheating, and they had people they were seeing. I did not witness any violence, but there was always unrest and fighting at home."
Rabia Nur, who stated that she was complaining about her father Gökhan Eller, requested the court to allow her 9-year-old brother, who was planned to be heard as a witness, to give his statements in the presence of a psychologist.
HE TOOK THE PHONE TO DESTROY EVIDENCE
The plaintiff's lawyer Mehmet Arslan reminded that the victim Selda Eller’s mobile phone could not be found at the crime scene, stating that the defendant Gökhan Eller took it with him to destroy possible evidence on the phone. According to the HTS records, after the murder, the defendant's and the victim's phones gave signals in the same locations for a while, and he requested that this matter be taken into consideration by the court.
THE CASE WAS ADJOURNED
After a break, the court decided to hear the other witnesses in the file and adjourned the case until May 13.
"I BURIED MY DAUGHTER AT A YOUNG AGE"
After the hearing, father Mustafa Ferhat Durmaz, unable to hold back his tears, said, "I want justice to be served. I want him to be sentenced to life imprisonment; I buried my daughter at a young age. May God not let anyone experience the pain of losing a child. He should not come out of there. May God not let such an event happen to anyone."
"I WANT HIM TO RECEIVE THE HEAVIEST PUNISHMENT"
Mother Zehra Can Şahin also stated, "He is constantly trying to slander my daughter. If my daughter was cheating, why did he propose to her again? I am complaining; I want him to receive the heaviest punishment," she said.
"HE DESTROYED THE PHONE TO ELIMINATE EVIDENCE"
The family's lawyer Mehmet Arslan said, "Today we are at the second hearing of Selda Eller. HTS records were requested in the previous session. Selda Eller’s phone could not be found at all. A witness stated that he took it with him in a moment of panic, emphasizing that there was absolutely no intention to hide evidence. However, as seen in the incoming HTS records, the defendant carried the phone with him for an hour, and wherever he received a signal from his phone, the victim's phone also received a signal from him. It is likely that Selda Eller recorded all the assaults, threats, and insults made by her husband before she was killed. The defendant could not access the phone because it required a password, and he destroyed the phone to eliminate evidence. This was revealed in this hearing," he stated.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The incident occurred on September 23, 2024, in a site located in the Güzelyurt neighborhood of the Yunusemre district in Manisa. After a dispute between Selda Eller, who operated a beauty salon, and her husband Gökhan Eller, with whom she was in the process of divorce, police and medical teams were dispatched to the house following a neighbor's report. The teams found Selda Eller strangled to death in the children's room. After the incident, the teams initiated an investigation and detained Gökhan Eller. He reportedly stated in his testimony that Selda Eller went to her home to collect her personal belongings, and during the argument that ensued, he lost control of his anger and strangled his wife.