12.06.2026 14:51
A verdict has been reached in the trial of Public Prosecutor Muhammed Çağatay K., who wounded female judge Aslı K. with a firearm at the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice building. The court sentenced the defendant, Muhammed Çağatay K., to 15 years in prison. Criticizing the prosecutor's opinion, the defendant said, "It's clear the prosecutor doesn't know much about this case, they're out of the loop. There was no need for me to be tried under detention after the first hearing."
Prosecutor Muhammed Çağatay Kılıçarslan, accused of wounding judge Aslı Kahraman with a gun at the Kartal Regional Court of Appeal, appeared before the judge for the second time. The prosecutor's office, in its opinion on the case, demanded that Kılıçarslan be sentenced to 20 to 42 years in prison for the crimes of 'attempted murder of a woman', 'violation of workplace inviolability through coercion and threats', 'threats with a weapon and in a chain manner', 'unlawful acquisition of personal data', and 'stalking'. Kılıçarslan said in the hearing, "Clearly, this prosecutor doesn't know much about the job, he's out of touch. There was no need for me to be tried under detention after the first session." Tensions arose occasionally during the hearing.
SECOND HEARING IN THE JUDGE INJURY CASE
Republican Prosecutor Muhammed Çağatay Kılıçarslan, who works at the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse, was accused of shooting and wounding Judge Aslı Kahraman of the 23rd Criminal Chamber with a gun during an argument while visiting her office on January 13. It was stated that when Prosecutor Kılıçarslan attempted to shoot a second time, Yakup K., a convict working as a tea maker at Maltepe Open Penitentiary Institution who was in the room, intervened and prevented the incident from escalating.
While Judge Aslı Kahraman survived the incident with injuries, the indictment prepared sought a prison sentence of 20 years and 2 months to 42 years and 3 months for Kılıçarslan on the charges of 'attempted murder of a woman', 'violation of workplace inviolability through coercion and threats', 'threats with a weapon and in a chain manner', 'unlawful acquisition of personal data', and 'stalking'.
##19457235##
THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE PRESENTS ITS OPINION
The second hearing of the case was held at the Istanbul Courthouse 35th Heavy Penal Court. The detained defendant Muhammed Çağatay Kılıçarslan and the lawyers of the parties attended the hearing.
At the hearing, the prosecutor's office announced its opinion on the merits. In the opinion, a prison sentence of 20 to 42 years was requested for the defendant on the charges of 'attempted murder of a woman', 'violation of workplace inviolability through coercion and threats', 'threats with a weapon and in a chain manner', 'unlawful acquisition of personal data', and 'stalking'.
##19457530##
DEFENDANT'S REACTION TO THE OPINION
In his defense, the detained defendant Kılıçarslan said, "In a case where I am detained, a hearing date was set for two and a half months later, and the prosecutor was asked to submit his opinion at an interim session. Two days before the hearing; I never served as a trial prosecutor, I served as an investigation prosecutor, but the trial prosecutor, after 68 days, copy-pasted the indictment before us. Clearly, this prosecutor doesn't know much about this job, he's out of touch. My dear father served this profession for 30 years. So I don't understand being tried for this alleged crime. There are contradictions and lies in front of everyone. There was no need for me to be tried under detention after the first session."
TENSIONS DURING THE HEARING
Defendant Kılıçarslan also made various comments directed at the press during the hearing. Kılıçarslan stated, "The news you made also caused this; you manipulated the situation."
During his defense, Kılıçarslan made statements directed at the complainant, and there was a brief tension between him and the trial prosecutor. Following the trial prosecutor's warning, "Look, I'm not saying anything to you, but don't say anything directed at me personally," the defendant said, "Please, can you shut this prosecutor up?"
STATEMENTS REGARDING PHONE MESSAGES
Continuing his defense, Kılıçarslan made statements regarding his relationship with the complainant and the developments he claimed occurred before the incident. Claiming that their relationship was negatively affected after some messages he saw on his phone, the defendant alleged that communication between the parties ceased following the arguments.
WARNING FROM THE COURT PRESIDENT
As the defendant addressed topics outside the opinion for a long time, the court president warned the defendant, saying, "You've been making a defense for 45 minutes; you criticized the trial prosecutor, you criticized the investigative prosecutor, you criticized the complainant, you criticized everyone. Now make a defense against the opinion."
##19458126##
WHAT HAPPENED?
It was reported that Republican Prosecutor Muhammed Çağatay Kılıçarslan, who works at the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse, went to the office of Judge Aslı Kahraman of the 23rd Criminal Chamber, who is assigned to the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeal in Kartal, on January 13, 2025. According to the allegation, during an argument between the two, Kılıçarslan fired at Kahraman with the pistol he had with him.
Judge Aslı Kahraman was injured by the bullet that hit her body, while it was claimed that Prosecutor Kılıçarslan attempted to fire a second time. However, the attack was prevented from escalating by the intervention of Yakup K., a convict working as a tea maker at Maltepe Open Penitentiary Institution who was in the room at the time.
After the incident, Aslı Kahraman was taken to the hospital and treated, while Muhammed Çağatay Kılıçarslan, who was taken into custody, was arrested. In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a case was filed against Kılıçarslan on charges of 'attempted murder of a woman', 'violation of workplace inviolability through coercion and threats', 'threats with a weapon and in a chain manner', 'unlawful acquisition of personal data', and 'stalking'.
The prosecutor's office, in its opinion on the merits of the case, requested that the defendant be sentenced to 20 to 42 years in prison.