Murder of bishop in Turkey individual act, no organization link: Court

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Luigi Padovese is seen in this file photo. DHA photo

The murder of Luigi Padovese, the pope’s apostolic vicar, was an individual act with no links to cults or organizations, according to the detailed ruling of the İskenderun’s 2nd Criminal Court, which had previously sentenced Padovese’s driver to 15 years for the crime.

Murat Altun, the driver, has accused the vicar of forcing him into sexual intercourse before he murdered him three years ago in southeastern Hatay. His prison sentence was reduced to 15 years due to “unjust provocation,” with the court citing a legal principle over accusations coming from suspects. “Doubts that may come from allegations which cannot be proven otherwise will benefit the suspect.”

The court ruled out any organizational link or connections to a cult, and stated that the murder was an individual act.

Altun committed the crime in the moment, without any previous planning or plotting, the court said, adding that Altun had been subjected to pressure to convert to Christianity.

Altun gave conflicting statements to officials, claiming he had killed Padovese “to kill the devil” and that he had been enchanted by a Christian. Altun’s uncle claimed the driver had been on edge before the crime, stating that the government knew “all that was going on in the church” and he was set to tell officials about it.

The ruling stated that “the suspect killed the victim for reasons that cannot be said with certainty by slitting the victim’s throat.”