Questions arise in police officer’s ‘self defense’ claim in Sarısülük case

ANKARA

Sarısülük was killed during a confrontation with police in Ankara’s Güvenpark on June 1 and fell into coma. His brain death was confirmed on June 13. Hürriyet Photo

Video analysis conducted as part of an expert report has found that the police officer who shot dead protester Ethem Sarısülük in Ankara during the Gezi Park protests actually arrived at the scene holding his gun, rather than pulling it out at the scene, a possible critical departure point for his claims of self defense.

The report, provided on July 18 in a joint press statement by Ethem’s brother Mustafa Sarısülük and the Sarısülük family’s lawyer Kazım Bayraktar, further stated that no stone had actually struck the police officer, who was claimed to have been hit by numerous stones thrown by the protesters before firing his gun.

The expert report, prepared following a demand by the brother, contains images of the video showing the moment of Sarısülük getting shot.

The police officer was recently released pending trial and given police protection, causing significant public indignation. As of July 17, a criminal court decided to suspend the case and return it to the Office of Ankara Public Prosecutor, as the crime was argued to have been committed while the police officer was on duty, meaning that an Ankara governorship permit is necessary to proceed with the trial.

Sarısülük was killed during a confrontation with police in Ankara’s Güvenpark on June 1 and fell into coma. His brain death was confirmed on June 13.