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'NO ORGANIZATION BEHIND MURDER'
Hurriyet Daily News
Feb 24 2012
Turkey
An Istanbul court issues its detailed ruling in Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink's murder case and says although there are
doubts there was no evidence on the existence of an organization
behind the crime
An Istanbul court has issued its detailed ruling in the case of
Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian origin murdered in
2007, arguing there was no evidence indicating the existence of an
organization behind the crime, despite lingering doubts.
"If a [terrorist] organization does exist [behind the crime],
then it has not been ascertained when and for which purpose it was
established. It has not been ascertained on which principles and crimes
the organization's founders established their mutual wills. If there
is a structure that presents continuity, then no information could
be obtained as to what kinds of actions they have undertaken since
Jan. 19, 2007," read the court's ruling made public yesterday.
The 216 page ruling also said no organization leaders or members could
be identified, and that no evidence could be found to demonstrate
the organization was in possession of the necessary means to commit
the crimes in question either.
"There is only the fact that a murder leading to so many political
consequences was committed by the suspects without an organization
[standing behind them], and that this constitutes a situation that
runs counter to the natural flow of life," said the ruling.
While this situation establishes doubt, criminal law holds that doubt
should be interpreted in the suspect's favor, the verdict went on.
"It was thus necessary to acquit the suspects due to lack of evidence,
as the suspects' crimes of establishing, leading, abetting and
being members of an [illegal] organization could not be proven beyond
reasonable doubt with clear and precise facts and evidence that leaves
no room for hesitation," said the ruling.
It seems illogical that the murder was planned and premeditated by
juveniles without an organization behind them, but those who planned
the murder left no evidence that would establish either a de jure
or a de facto connection between the triggermen and themselves,
the ruling continued.
"The conclusion could be logically drawn that the evidence could
have been more accessible if there was no terrorist organization
[behind the triggermen] of a magnitude bigger than previously thought."
Dink was the chief editor for weekly Agos, a newspaper published in
Turkish and Armenian. He was shot dead in front of his office on Jan.
19, 2007 in Istanbul. Triggerman Ogun Samast was sentenced to 22
years in prison for the murder last year.
Instigator Yasin Hayal was sentenced on Jan. 19 to aggravated life
imprisonment, while former police informant and suspect Erhan Tuncel
was released, leading to a public outcry.
Hurriyet Daily News
Feb 24 2012
Turkey
An Istanbul court issues its detailed ruling in Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink's murder case and says although there are
doubts there was no evidence on the existence of an organization
behind the crime
An Istanbul court has issued its detailed ruling in the case of
Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian origin murdered in
2007, arguing there was no evidence indicating the existence of an
organization behind the crime, despite lingering doubts.
"If a [terrorist] organization does exist [behind the crime],
then it has not been ascertained when and for which purpose it was
established. It has not been ascertained on which principles and crimes
the organization's founders established their mutual wills. If there
is a structure that presents continuity, then no information could
be obtained as to what kinds of actions they have undertaken since
Jan. 19, 2007," read the court's ruling made public yesterday.
The 216 page ruling also said no organization leaders or members could
be identified, and that no evidence could be found to demonstrate
the organization was in possession of the necessary means to commit
the crimes in question either.
"There is only the fact that a murder leading to so many political
consequences was committed by the suspects without an organization
[standing behind them], and that this constitutes a situation that
runs counter to the natural flow of life," said the ruling.
While this situation establishes doubt, criminal law holds that doubt
should be interpreted in the suspect's favor, the verdict went on.
"It was thus necessary to acquit the suspects due to lack of evidence,
as the suspects' crimes of establishing, leading, abetting and
being members of an [illegal] organization could not be proven beyond
reasonable doubt with clear and precise facts and evidence that leaves
no room for hesitation," said the ruling.
It seems illogical that the murder was planned and premeditated by
juveniles without an organization behind them, but those who planned
the murder left no evidence that would establish either a de jure
or a de facto connection between the triggermen and themselves,
the ruling continued.
"The conclusion could be logically drawn that the evidence could
have been more accessible if there was no terrorist organization
[behind the triggermen] of a magnitude bigger than previously thought."
Dink was the chief editor for weekly Agos, a newspaper published in
Turkish and Armenian. He was shot dead in front of his office on Jan.
19, 2007 in Istanbul. Triggerman Ogun Samast was sentenced to 22
years in prison for the murder last year.
Instigator Yasin Hayal was sentenced on Jan. 19 to aggravated life
imprisonment, while former police informant and suspect Erhan Tuncel
was released, leading to a public outcry.