Man gets life for role in Hrant Dink murder

ANKARA - The Associated Press

DHA Photo

A Turkish court has sentenced a man to life in prison for his role in the killing of an ethnic Armenian journalist who was hated by hardline nationalists.

A panel of judges found Yasin Hayal guilty Tuesday of instigating the killing of Hrant Dink outside of his office five years ago, and gave him the life term.

The court, however, acquitted Hayal and several others of charges of acting under a terrorist organization's orders, angering lawyers who say the trial failed to shed light on alleged connections between the suspects and some state officials.

Gunman Ogun Samast was sentenced to nearly 23 years in prison in July for "premeditated murder."