Berkin Elvan’s lawyer accuses police of shooting ‘like a video game,’ as footage revealed

ISTANBUL

Berkin Elvan's father, Sami Elvan, and lawyer Evrim Deniz Karatana speak during the screening of the new footage, in Istanbul, on May 6. DHA Photo

Footage showing two police officers shooting tear gas allegedly at the place where Berkin Elvan was fatally injured has been revealed as the lawyer representing the 15-year-old Gezi victim’s family denounced behavior akin to video games.

The footage, which was included in the expert report submitted to the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office, was shown during a press conference attended by Elvan’s father and lawyers.

“We have succeeded in making some progress after seven months. We were notified about the names of 1,000 police officers and that list has been narrowed gradually. According to the recorded footage and pictures taken, it was the fifth riot police squad that was assigned there,” said lawyer Evrim Deniz Karatana during the press conference.

Elvan was hit by a tear gas canister near his house at the Okmeydanı neighborhood in Istanbul on June 16, 2013, as a major police crackdown on Gezi protesters was carried out.

A massive funeral was held with the attendance of hundreds of thousands of people after Elvan eventually succumbed to his injuries on March 11 after spending 269 days in coma.

Karatana slammed how police officers were making use of their tear gas guns.

“The police hide and fire directly at people as if they were playing Counter Strike,” said Karatana, in reference to the highly popular video game.

Some 14 police officers have thus far been investigated as part of the investigation into the death of Elvan, but all of them have denied any role or responsibility in the incident.  

Elvan’s family and lawyers expect the recent video footage and photographs to shed light on the young victim’s death.