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DINK MURDER SUSPECT TUNCEL MET POPE'S ASSASSIN AGCA: REPORT
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Oct 25 2013
ISTANBUL
Erhan Tuncel, the suspected instigator of the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, recently met with Mehmet Ali
Agca, who attempted to assassinate the late Pope John Paul II in 1981.
Tuncel was fugitive at the time but "hiding" in Istanbul's coastal town
of Kumburgaz, although locals and police were aware of his identity,
according to a report published by daily Hurriyet on Oct.
25.
Tuncel, who was arrested by Istanbul's 14th High Criminal Court
on Oct. 24, first met Agca in a café during his recent period in
hiding and told him, "I am one of your biggest fans," according to
an eyewitness whose name was kept anonymous by the daily.
The duo then met on a number of subsequent occasions in the same place,
witnesses said.
The cafe by the sea was being managed by Tuncel's fellow townsmen from
the southeastern Turkish province of Elazıg, and Tuncel generally
spent his days in Kumburgaz reading books by the sea, according
to reports.
Agca and Tuncel had "long hours of talks" at the café, according to
the witness.
"He had two mobile phones, his cigarettes and books. He would not
talk too much. We would see him talking to his fellow townsmen from
Elazıg and occasionally with the police. Policemen would call him 'Mr.
Erhan,'" an eyewitness told the daily.
Tuncel was captured by police on Oct. 23 as he was out doing his
"daily jogging." The court decided to arrest him the next day.
He had spent 38 days on the run, but he claims that he was hiding
out in order to prepare his defense.
Tuncel moved to Kumburgaz after being released by the court on Jan.
12, 2012. He rented a villa by the sea and spent the summer in the
town, but Kumburgaz locals said he had been away from his house
after a new arrest warrant was issued for him. The villa's owner is
still unknown.
The trial concerning the murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist
Hrant Dink restarted in Istanbul on Sept. 17 this year following an
overturning from the Supreme Court of Appeals after six years of legal
procedures. The court had issued an arrest warrant for Tuncel. On the
same day, Tuncel went to Kumburgaz State Health Center and he said
he was suffering from a back illness, Doctor Sinan Onder said. Tuncel
got a rest day report from the doctor and sent it to the court.
The case history
Tuncel was an informant in the Black Sea province of Trabzon ahead of
the murder of Dink, the editor-in-chief of Armenian-Turkish newspaper
Agos who was shot dead in broad daylight in Istanbul on Jan. 19, 2007.
The trial concerning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink restarted in September, and the court subsequently issued an
arrest warrant for Tuncel.
Tuncel is seen as key in linking the murder to the state institutions,
as members of the police department in Trabzon, the hometown of the
suspects, have been accused of failing to relay intelligence provided
by Tuncel to the Trabzon Gendarmerie Command, in a report prepared
by Turkey's State Supervisory Council (DDK).
October/25/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/dink-murder-suspect-tuncel-met-popes-assassin-agca-report.aspx?pageID=238&nID=56839&NewsCatID=338
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Oct 25 2013
ISTANBUL
Erhan Tuncel, the suspected instigator of the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, recently met with Mehmet Ali
Agca, who attempted to assassinate the late Pope John Paul II in 1981.
Tuncel was fugitive at the time but "hiding" in Istanbul's coastal town
of Kumburgaz, although locals and police were aware of his identity,
according to a report published by daily Hurriyet on Oct.
25.
Tuncel, who was arrested by Istanbul's 14th High Criminal Court
on Oct. 24, first met Agca in a café during his recent period in
hiding and told him, "I am one of your biggest fans," according to
an eyewitness whose name was kept anonymous by the daily.
The duo then met on a number of subsequent occasions in the same place,
witnesses said.
The cafe by the sea was being managed by Tuncel's fellow townsmen from
the southeastern Turkish province of Elazıg, and Tuncel generally
spent his days in Kumburgaz reading books by the sea, according
to reports.
Agca and Tuncel had "long hours of talks" at the café, according to
the witness.
"He had two mobile phones, his cigarettes and books. He would not
talk too much. We would see him talking to his fellow townsmen from
Elazıg and occasionally with the police. Policemen would call him 'Mr.
Erhan,'" an eyewitness told the daily.
Tuncel was captured by police on Oct. 23 as he was out doing his
"daily jogging." The court decided to arrest him the next day.
He had spent 38 days on the run, but he claims that he was hiding
out in order to prepare his defense.
Tuncel moved to Kumburgaz after being released by the court on Jan.
12, 2012. He rented a villa by the sea and spent the summer in the
town, but Kumburgaz locals said he had been away from his house
after a new arrest warrant was issued for him. The villa's owner is
still unknown.
The trial concerning the murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist
Hrant Dink restarted in Istanbul on Sept. 17 this year following an
overturning from the Supreme Court of Appeals after six years of legal
procedures. The court had issued an arrest warrant for Tuncel. On the
same day, Tuncel went to Kumburgaz State Health Center and he said
he was suffering from a back illness, Doctor Sinan Onder said. Tuncel
got a rest day report from the doctor and sent it to the court.
The case history
Tuncel was an informant in the Black Sea province of Trabzon ahead of
the murder of Dink, the editor-in-chief of Armenian-Turkish newspaper
Agos who was shot dead in broad daylight in Istanbul on Jan. 19, 2007.
The trial concerning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink restarted in September, and the court subsequently issued an
arrest warrant for Tuncel.
Tuncel is seen as key in linking the murder to the state institutions,
as members of the police department in Trabzon, the hometown of the
suspects, have been accused of failing to relay intelligence provided
by Tuncel to the Trabzon Gendarmerie Command, in a report prepared
by Turkey's State Supervisory Council (DDK).
October/25/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/dink-murder-suspect-tuncel-met-popes-assassin-agca-report.aspx?pageID=238&nID=56839&NewsCatID=338