27.10.2025 21:16
In the third hearing of the case regarding the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, which claimed the lives of 78 people, the lawyer of 24-year-old nurse Dilara Ermanoğlu, who died after jumping from the 12th floor, stated, "My client chose death for herself. She would either die by burning in the fire or by jumping. She chose to jump." The hearing has been adjourned until tomorrow morning at 09:00.
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At the Grand Kartal Hotel located in Bolu Kartalkaya, the third hearing of the trial regarding the fire disaster that claimed the lives of 78 people and injured 133 on January 21 is continuing at the Bolu 1st Heavy Criminal Court, where a total of 32 defendants, including 20 in custody, are being tried.
"EITHER THIS DARKNESS OR CONSCIENTIOUS PEOPLE WILL WIN"
During the hearing, the plaintiff's lawyer Bilsay Sarper Arslan, who spoke against the opinion on the merits, stated, "Unfortunately, the Minister of Tourism is not present before us as a defendant. The staff were instructed not to 'notify' during the fire, and this order was carried out flawlessly. Smoke detectors and fire alarms are not functioning. It seems as if we have not spoken, and there is an opinion written as if the defendants have exercised their right to remain silent. Everyone in the management level present at the hotel on the night of the fire should be legally charged with 'manslaughter with possible intent through negligence.' If a different decision is made, you will take us back to January 21. Either those who run this rotten ship driven by profit, thinking of no one but themselves, or conscientious people will win," he said.
"THE LONG-STANDING DEFICIENCIES OF THIS HOTEL HAVE BEEN COVERED UP BY THE DEFENDANTS"
Another plaintiff's lawyer, Büşra Doğan, stated, "It has emerged during the trial that Ceyda and Elif gave various instructions to the hotel staff. It has also come to light that they received reports until the arrival and departure of the guests. In a WhatsApp group formed after the fire, they could only say 'get well soon to all of us' while pursuing how to destroy the blue label of the other hotel's elevator. To say that no precautions were taken here means to accept all possible consequences. The long-standing deficiencies of this hotel have been covered up by the defendants," she stated.
"WE ARE SEEKING REFUGE IN THE NOBLE TURKISH JUSTICE"
Tufan Haluk Seyhun, who lost his daughter and granddaughter in the fire, said, "I lost my children due to great negligence and error on the night of January 21. Müge was my only child. God did not grant us another child, so we gave all our love to her. She was everything to us. We used to have family gatherings every weekend. I have been waiting since January 21, but no phone calls come. They took them from us immorally and brutally. My granddaughter Alya was only 14 years old. My daughter wanted to reward her child's report card and safely went to the hotel, which she thought was under government control through ETS Tur. I thank God that she could not convince her daughter, who is going to university, to go on vacation. What crimes did 78 innocent lives commit? Now we are seeking refuge in the noble Turkish justice," he expressed.
"CHOSING TO JUMP TO DEATH"
The lawyer of Şevval Şahin, who lost her life by jumping from the 12th floor, stated, "My friend died by jumping from the 12th floor. Eslam and Şevval, who jumped from the 12th floor, jumped while holding each other in fear. My friend was given the option to die from smoke inhalation, burning, or jumping. We want all defendants to be punished for possible intent," she stated. The lawyer of Esra Nazik, a chef who started working a month ago and lost her life in the fire, also said, "May the decision made in this case be the beginning of the days when we will all live in safety."
Another plaintiff's lawyer said, "They become board members while benefiting, but do they not become board members when it comes to responsibility? I expect a fair decision from the court. We will not forget the behaviors of the institutions and the defendants that lead to organized murder. The defendants knowingly and intentionally did not wake the people in the rooms, meaning they killed them knowingly and willingly," demanding that the defendants be punished for possible intent.
"WE GO TO OUR CHILDREN'S GRAVES EVERY DAY"
Speaking at the hearing, lawyer Yüksel Gültekin, who lost his children and grandchildren, said, "I feel guilty; I could not protect my children from these monsters. Our 40-year home ended in 40 minutes; I cannot look at my beautiful wife's face. I feel like I am being crushed in a vise of 15-20 tons every day. This pain does not seem to pass. If these merciless people do not receive the punishment they deserve, we will feel this feeling every day for a lifetime, and our little ones will not be able to rest in their graves," he said.
Uğur Doğan, who lost his son Mert Doğan, daughter-in-law Duygu Doğan, and grandchildren Mavi and Doğa, said, "We knew that we go to the graves of the elders. But we go to our children's graves every day. How could we have known this?" he said.
The lawyer of 24-year-old nurse Dilara Ermanoğlu, who lost her life by jumping from the 12th floor, stated, "My client chose death for herself. She would either die by burning in the fire or by jumping. She chose to jump. I want the defendants to be tried for possible intent," she said. Dilara Ermanoğlu's father, Hasan Ermanoğlu, said, "We are avoiding them so that our other children are not affected or saddened. We go to our children's grave, whereas we should go to the graves of the elders," he expressed.
Hasan Burak Suyolcu, the lawyer of the Suyolcu family, also stated that he does not believe that a trial without the officials of ETS Tur and AYGAZ would yield a healthy result.
"I RECEIVED MY CHILDREN BLACK FROM FORENSIC MEDICINE"
Sema Şahin, who lost her daughter Feray Kanpolat and granddaughter Oya Kanpolat in the fire, also said: "We sent our children on vacation. Müge Turan's daughter Alya Turan and my Oya have been friends since they were four years old. They went to death together. I received my children black from forensic medicine; they were burned. My baby was in pieces; they tied my baby's body together. Emir and Elif Aras were in the room across from my children. But they passed by the front of the room and ran away. Emir Aras and Elif Aras. What is this if not intent? I want the Ergül family to be tried for possible intent."
THE HEARING HAS BEEN ADJOURNED
The hearing has been adjourned until 09:00 tomorrow morning. The hearing will continue tomorrow with the statements of the plaintiffs and their lawyers.
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