Lawyer denies links to Christian murders

ISTANBUL / MALATYA - Anatolia News Agency

Suzanne Geske (L), the wife of Tilman Ekkehart Geske, one of the victims, says Hurşit Tolon’s testimony is a major development to shed light on the murders. AA photo

The lawyer of a former top commander in the Turkish armed forces, who has been called to testify as a suspect in the ongoing murder case for three missionaries, said his client has no relationship to the suspects involved in the case.

The new indictment in the case, which includes evidence against General Hurşit Tolon, is dubious said lawyer İlkay Sezer, in a written statement.

“The claims against my client, who has dedicated himself to his country and nation, are baseless and include slanders that have no truth,” Sezer wrote.

Christian murders
Three missionaries, German citizen Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel, were tied up and tortured before their throats were slit at the Zirve Publishing House, a Christian publisher in the eastern province of Malatya on April 18, 2007.

Five young men, age 19 and 20 at the time of the killings, confessed to the murder and were arrested for the crime. However, authorities have continued to investigate the case, which is believed by many to be an act of the “deep state,” rather than a group of independent fanatics.

Tolon’s testimony may shed light on the case, some say. He has been under arrest in the ongoing Ergenekon coup plot probe.

Wife speaks
Suzanne Geske, the wife of Tilman Ekkehart Geske, one of the victims, said Tolon’s testimony is a major development in the case.

“I am glad to hear that there is a new indictment in the case, the enlightening of the case makes Turkey a more democratic country,” she said.

Geske also said that other important links in the massacre chains, such as the Hrant Dink and Peder Santoro murders, may have a new dimension once Tolon is tried as a suspect.