08.05.2026 18:03
The special trailer for the documentary "Palu Family: Dark Spiral," which tells the story of the Palu Family case solved live on the program "Müge Anlı ile Tatlı Sert" and horrified the entire country, has been released. Years later, son-in-law Tuncer Ustael was seen at the center of the allegations.
The Palu family case, which has long been on Turkey's agenda, is once again facing the public with a documentary project. HBO Max Turkey is preparing to release its production titled "Palu Family: Dark Spiral" on May 8.
3-PART CRIME DOCUMENTARY TO BE RELEASED
The documentary, bearing the HBO Original imprint and consisting of three parts, examines the dark process surrounding the Palu family in detail. While the platform has also shared the first trailer from the production, the striking visuals quickly sparked widespread reaction on social media.
TUNCER USTAEL SPEAKS FOR THE FIRST TIME
Current footage of Tuncer Ustael, who is serving an aggravated life sentence, appeared in the trailer. Ustael's statements, seen staying in a solitary cell, stand out as one of the most anticipated parts of the documentary.
HOW WAS THE CASE REVEALED?
Meryem Tahnal, who lived in the Körfez district, disappeared in 2008, and her daughter Melike Tahnal in 2009. Police teams launched an investigation to find the missing persons but no evidence was found. Excavations conducted in Kocaeli and Sakarya also yielded no findings, and the efforts were halted.
At the end of the trial in the Kocaeli 7th Heavy Penal Court, defendant Tuncer Ustael was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for "intentional killing with monstrous intent or by causing torture, or against a descendant or ancestor, or spouse or sibling" regarding Meryem Tahnal, 4 years for "deprivation of liberty", and 3 years for "misuse of credit card", totaling 7 years in prison.
Emine Ustael and Havva, İsa, and Ayşe Palu were sentenced to 12 years and six months each for "aiding intentional killing".
F.P., being a minor at the time of the crime, was released with a decision of 8 years and 4 months in prison.
The Sakarya Regional Court of Justice 1st Criminal Chamber overturned the local court's decision on the grounds that a procedural error was made in the trial because the defendants were defended by the same lawyer, and the defendants appeared before the judge again in the Kocaeli 7th Heavy Penal Court.
In the opinion announced by the public prosecutor at the previous hearing, an aggravated life sentence was requested for the detained defendant Tuncer Ustael, and prison sentences ranging from 16 years to 23 years and six months for the other 5 family members.
In the retrial of the case regarding the murder of Meryem Tahnal, murder suspect Tuncer Ustael was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for "intentional killing" and 7 years for other crimes, while the 5 family members were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 8 years and 4 months to 14 years and 2 months.