05.09.2025 14:49
The trial of Hüseyin Sönmez, the suspect in the murder of siblings Umutcan and Melisa Şimşek, who were killed in Sivas with their hands tied and throats slit, has begun. Sönmez, who was sent to a mental hospital, did not attend the hearing, while their mother, Ayşegül Şimşek, demanded the death penalty. In court, Şimşek said, "They should give us this man so we can hang him in public as a lesson for everyone."
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The trial of Hüseyin Sönmez, the suspect in the murder of siblings Umutcan (22) and national athlete Melisa Şimşek (16), who were found bound and murdered with their throats cut in their home in Sivas on May 6, has begun.
THE GRIEVING MOTHER'S T-SHIRT DREW ATTENTION
At the first hearing held at the Sivas 4th High Criminal Court, the lawyer of the Şimşek family, family members, and witnesses were present. The mother of the deceased young people, Ayşegül Şimşek, attended the hearing wearing a t-shirt with her children's photo on it.
THE KILLER OF THE SIBLINGS DID NOT ATTEND THE HEARING
Hüseyin Sönmez, the murder suspect who is detained in Elazığ E-Type Closed Prison but was transferred to a mental health hospital, did not attend the hearing. Sönmez is being tried for two counts of aggravated life imprisonment for "premeditated murder with monstrous feelings or torture" against Melisa Şimşek and "premeditated murder with monstrous feelings or torture" against Umutcan Şimşek, while the defendant's lawyer remained silent during the trial.
MOTHER DEMANDED THE DEATH PENALTY
The grieving mother Ayşegül Şimşek demanded the death penalty for her children's killer. Şimşek also requested that her husband and the father of her children, Uğur Şimşek, who has been missing for years, and his siblings be heard regarding the matter. Şimşek stated that they did not know the killer in any way. The lawyer for the victim's side requested the court to examine the case file from the Ankara West Courthouse, which was previously seen due to a dispute over a check worth 500,000 lira between the murder suspect and the deceased children's father, Uğur Şimşek. The hearing was adjourned to October 1 for the testimonies of Uğur Şimşek's siblings and the examination of the requested file.
NEIGHBORS HEARD MELISA'S SCREAMS
One of the neighbors who testified in court stated that they heard screams around 21:35, and the girl was shouting "don't do it, don't do it" while banging on the door, but they could not go to the door because they were scared.
"GIVE US THIS MAN, LET'S HANG HIM IN THE SQUARE"
Speaking to the press after the hearing, mother Şimşek demanded the death penalty for her children's killer, saying, "We wanted this so that justice would be served. The suspect did not attend the hearing. I don't understand if he is running away or what is happening. If justice cannot give the necessary punishment, let them give the man to us. We will carry out the necessary punishment. But we trust justice. I asked for justice in the hearing. They should also find those behind this. I do not think this man did this alone. I demanded the death penalty for this man in the hearing. Let them give us this man, and we will hang him in the square for the sake of setting an example. A child dies every day. It is a mistake for them to live and breathe." she said.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The incident occurred on May 6, 2025, in an apartment on 55th Street in Kılavuz Neighborhood. Siblings Umutcan (22) and national athlete Melisa Şimşek (16) were found murdered with their throats cut by their mother at home. It was determined that Melisa Şimşek had her hands bound before she was killed. Following the incident, the suspect Hüseyin Sönmez (34) was captured in Ankara less than 24 hours later as a result of meticulous surveillance conducted by the Sivas Provincial Police Department and the examination of 25 hours of camera footage.
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