Turkish court upholds jail sentence against policeman over murder of Gezi victim Berkin Elvan
An Istanbul appeals court has upheld the 16-year and eight month-long prison sentence against the police officer for shooting 14-year-old Berkin Elvan in the head with a tear gas canister and causing his death during the Gezi Park protests. The officer, Fatih Dalgalı, will be imprisoned if the Court of Cassation, Turkey's top appeal court, approves of the verdict.
Duvar English
Istanbul Regional Court of Justice 1st Penal Chamber has upheld the jail sentence of a police officer over the murder of 14-year-old Berkin Elvan, online news outlet Medyascope reported on April 4.
The total length of the upheld sentences against the officer, Fatih Dalgalı, is 16 years and eight months over the charges of “intentional killing.”
However, the appeals court rejected the request of Elvan family’s lawyers to sentence Dalgalı over “qualified intentional killing.” The qualified intentional killing refers to murders with premeditation or brutal torment and with the assailant sentenced aggravated life in prison.
The court also rejected the requests of the lawyers of Dalgalı that the decision was against the procedure and the law, and that the defendant should be acquitted.
Dalgalı will be imprisoned if the Court of Cassation, Turkey's top appeal court, approves of the verdict. He has not been arrested yet.
Elvan was shot by a tear gas canister fired by police during the Gezi Park protests, which took place in Istanbul’s Taksim following harsh government response to a group of protesters trying to prevent the cutting down of trees for a large development project planned by the government in 2013.
Elvan died in March 2014 after 269 days in a coma.