"When I said 'I wish I had died too,' the courtroom became chaotic! The presiding judge calmed the families down."

09.07.2025 17:20

In the case of the fire disaster in Bolu Kartalkaya, where 78 people lost their lives, Elif Aras, the daughter of Grand Kartal Hotel owner Halit Ergül, made a defense statement. Aras's words, "I wish I had died too," caused reactions in the courtroom. Victim families shouted, "We wish you had died! Don't shed crocodile tears!" The presiding judge intervened to calm the families down.

On January 21, a fire disaster at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu Kartalkaya resulted in the deaths of 78 people, including 36 children. The trial regarding this incident is being held by the Bolu 1st High Criminal Court in a specially created hall at the Bolu Social Sciences High School gymnasium. On the third day of the hearing, Elif Aras, the daughter of hotel owner Halit Ergül, took the stand to make her defense.

"MAYBE THIS MUCH HATRED IS DUE TO SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE"

Elif Aras, who stated that she was saved by chance during the fire, caused tension in the courtroom with her statements. According to journalist Emrullah Erdinç, the highlights of Aras's defense are as follows:

"I wanted to express my condolences, but they said they didn't want that. Therefore, I will go directly to my defense. I was saved by chance, but that doesn't mean I wasn't hurt. This much hatred may be due to the influence of social media... I don't know. But this hatred causes more pain to the grieving families."

"I WAS ON THE 7TH FLOOR THAT NIGHT"

"I was on the 7th floor that night. My daughter was in the adjacent room. Around 3:30 AM, I heard noises coming from the corridor and told my husband, 'Get up and check. There seems to be a fight.' When he went out to the corridor, there was smoke. He shouted that there was a fire. We immediately took my daughter and ran to the normal stairs."

"MY HUSBAND WAS ARRESTED, WE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA TOGETHER WITH MY CHILD"

"My daughter almost fainted 3-4 times. We were struggling to breathe. There was another boy, and I took him too. I handed him over to the play sister. I tried to reach his family. There were many people downstairs. As soon as I got down, I thought of my mother and brother. When the fire trucks arrived, we were not allowed to approach. In the morning, my brother's wife came from Istanbul and took us to the Gazelle Hotel. That day, my husband was arrested. We experienced trauma together with my child. I don't know how we got through those two months... I wish I had died too."

"I WISH I HAD DIED" CAUSED TENSION IN THE COURTROOM

Upon these words, the tension in the courtroom rose. The victim families shouted, "I wish you had died! Don't shed crocodile tears!" The judge intervened, calming the families and asking the defendant to continue her defense.

"WE STAYED AT THE HOTEL FOR VACATION, MY FATHER HANDLED EVERYTHING"

Elif Aras: "We only stayed at this hotel for vacation. My father handled everything."

Judge: Did your husband have any authority to address deficiencies at the hotel?

Elif Aras: He generally consulted my father.

Judge: What is your husband's official position at the hotel?

Elif Aras: He is the general manager on record.

"I DON'T KNOW IF THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM WAS TURNED OFF EARLIER"

Judge: Was there a fire extinguisher in the hotel?

Elif Aras: There was a cabinet, stairs, and a push button in the corridor.

Judge: Was the fire alarm system turned off earlier?

Elif Aras: I don't know.

Judge: Was any change made to the electrical installation?

Elif Aras: I don't know.