Turkey's presidential board slams Dink trial outcome

Hurriyet.com.tr

DHA photo

Turkey’s State Audit Board (DDK) completed a report into the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink today, saying it found mistakes in the questioning of government personnel which adversely affected the efficiency of the overall investigation into the murder. 
 
President Abdullah Gül had ordered DDK to look into the case of Dink's murder after lawyers for the murdered journalist’s family said the trial was not being properly conducted.  
 
The report said the trial was hampered by structural and procedural difficulties even though the culprits were swiftly apprehended. 
 
The DDK also said "gendarmerie and police intelligence units did not work toward the protection of Hrant Dink even though they had learned of a … threat."
 
The report added that the Turkish state failed to fulfill its obligation to protect human life as pointed out by Article 17 of the Turkish Constitution, as well as the second article of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Turkey is a signatory. 
 
Acts of negligence and abuse of office by government personnel before and after the murder should have been included as a factor in the main crime during investigations, the report said. 
 
The DDK's report concluded that the case into Dink's murder failed to satisfy the public and shook the reliability of the entire state apparatus.