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Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 1 2013
Prosecutor says Armenian private was shot 'accidentally'
1 11 March 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
A military prosecutor demanded up to two years, six months for a
suspect who he accused of "accidentally" shooting Sevag Şahin Balıkçı
during his military service as a private, while the family and lawyers
suspect Balıkçı being an ethnic Armenian might have been the motive
for the fatal shooting.
Pvt. Balıkçı was killed on April 24, 2011, the date the Armenian
diaspora has chosen to commemorate the incidents of 1915, when
hundreds of thousands of Armenians were killed in the Ottoman Empire
during World War I. Officers and other privates in his unit, which is
stationed in Batman province, testified that Balıkçı was shot
accidentally while "joking around" with a close friend, Kıvanç
Ağaoğlu, who allegedly fired the lethal shot. They were serving at the
Kozluk Gümüşgörü Gendarmerie Station at the time of the alleged
murder. However, a witness changed his testimony during the trial.
During a hearing at Diyarbakır Second Air Forces Command Military
Court on Feb. 28, the prosecutor demanded two to six years for Ağaoğlu
and from two years, six months to two years for noncommissioned
officer Sadrettin Ersöz.
Ağaoğlu, who has been released on bail, attended the hearing.
Balıkçı's parents Garabet and Ani Balıkçı, his sister Lerna Özder and
the family lawyers were also present. The other suspect, Ersöz, also
attended the trial.
Hakan Tekkanat, a witness who also was serving in the military at the
time of the murder, had earlier testified that Ersöz gathered all the
privates in the unit after the shooting and talked to them about the
shooting, saying Ağaoğlu was innocent and the shooting was an
accident. Ersöz denied the allegations that he tried to manipulate the
soldiers in any way, but he admits that he gathered the unit. "My
purpose was not to manipulate the testimony of the other soldier or
protect Ağaoğlu. I was just carrying out orders. I convened the unit
to find out information about the incident."
The Balıkçı family on Thursday said they wanted the truth to come out.
"Everything is left to people's conscience. We want to find out how
our son died. Sevag will not come back, but we want the truth to come
out. We want to know the truth," Garabet Balıkçı said.
Cem Halavurt, a lawyer representing the Balıkçı family, said documents
regarding the incident and testimony from witnesses presented serious
contradictions. "The witnesses are being manipulated. This is why the
incident can't be fully understood. There is serious negligence here,
and apart from Sadrettin E., all the commanders in charge of the
station have a responsibility." Halavurt also petitioned the court to
expand the investigation, a request that was turned down by the court.
After the military prosecutor presented his statement on the case, the
court was adjourned until May 26.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-308513-prosecutor-says-armenian-private-was-shot-accidentally.html
March 1 2013
Prosecutor says Armenian private was shot 'accidentally'
1 11 March 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
A military prosecutor demanded up to two years, six months for a
suspect who he accused of "accidentally" shooting Sevag Şahin Balıkçı
during his military service as a private, while the family and lawyers
suspect Balıkçı being an ethnic Armenian might have been the motive
for the fatal shooting.
Pvt. Balıkçı was killed on April 24, 2011, the date the Armenian
diaspora has chosen to commemorate the incidents of 1915, when
hundreds of thousands of Armenians were killed in the Ottoman Empire
during World War I. Officers and other privates in his unit, which is
stationed in Batman province, testified that Balıkçı was shot
accidentally while "joking around" with a close friend, Kıvanç
Ağaoğlu, who allegedly fired the lethal shot. They were serving at the
Kozluk Gümüşgörü Gendarmerie Station at the time of the alleged
murder. However, a witness changed his testimony during the trial.
During a hearing at Diyarbakır Second Air Forces Command Military
Court on Feb. 28, the prosecutor demanded two to six years for Ağaoğlu
and from two years, six months to two years for noncommissioned
officer Sadrettin Ersöz.
Ağaoğlu, who has been released on bail, attended the hearing.
Balıkçı's parents Garabet and Ani Balıkçı, his sister Lerna Özder and
the family lawyers were also present. The other suspect, Ersöz, also
attended the trial.
Hakan Tekkanat, a witness who also was serving in the military at the
time of the murder, had earlier testified that Ersöz gathered all the
privates in the unit after the shooting and talked to them about the
shooting, saying Ağaoğlu was innocent and the shooting was an
accident. Ersöz denied the allegations that he tried to manipulate the
soldiers in any way, but he admits that he gathered the unit. "My
purpose was not to manipulate the testimony of the other soldier or
protect Ağaoğlu. I was just carrying out orders. I convened the unit
to find out information about the incident."
The Balıkçı family on Thursday said they wanted the truth to come out.
"Everything is left to people's conscience. We want to find out how
our son died. Sevag will not come back, but we want the truth to come
out. We want to know the truth," Garabet Balıkçı said.
Cem Halavurt, a lawyer representing the Balıkçı family, said documents
regarding the incident and testimony from witnesses presented serious
contradictions. "The witnesses are being manipulated. This is why the
incident can't be fully understood. There is serious negligence here,
and apart from Sadrettin E., all the commanders in charge of the
station have a responsibility." Halavurt also petitioned the court to
expand the investigation, a request that was turned down by the court.
After the military prosecutor presented his statement on the case, the
court was adjourned until May 26.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-308513-prosecutor-says-armenian-private-was-shot-accidentally.html