Murder suspect absent again in Gezi Park protester murder case

ANKARA

The mother of Ethem Sarısülük salutes the people gathered outside a courthouse after the trial. AP Photo

An Ankara court on April 7 ruled for the calling of murder suspect Ahmet Şahbaz to the next hearing into the death of Gezi Park protester Ethem Sarısülük.

The fourth hearing of the Sarısülük death case was held in Ankara yesterday, and police officer Şahbaz is charged with shooting Sarısülük to death during the anti-government protests in Güvenpark on June 1.

Şahbaz is accused of “killing a person by unintentionally exceeding the limits of self-defense, due to excusable circumstances.”

It was previously reported that Şahbaz’s testimony would be received via video from Şanlıurfa, the southeastern province where he is currently assigned. However, it was later announced that plan had been cancelled as well.

Lawyer Murat Yılmaz argued that the court is “dallying” and avoiding Şahbaz’s testimony.

“This trial cannot continue like this. The suspect’s interrogation was not finished [in the last hearing on Dec. 2, 2013], it was cut in the middle,” he said. “Şahbaz should have been here today. The judge should answer why he was not brought here today.”

At the end of yesterday’s hearing, the judge issued a call to Şahbaz to attend the next hearing. However, an arrest warrant was not issued.

The next hearing of the case will be held May 26.

Sarısülük is one of the eight protesters killed in clashes after Gezi Park protests turned into nationwide anti-government rallies after a heavy-handed police attack on a peaceful sit-in against the Taksim renovation plan.