Turkish singer’s suspected murderer detained

Çetin Aydın - ISTANBUL

Değer Deniz's music incorporated several genres, including alternative, progressive, rock and trip-hop.

Turkish police have detained a 17-year-old man who has been accused of killing a well-known singer at her home in Istanbul.

The body of 39-year-old Değer Deniz was discovered by her younger brother when he had a locksmith open the door of her house in the Taksim neighborhood late May 5 after the singer’s family had been unable to contact her throughout the day. 

Police detained the suspect on May 8 after studying security camera footage from the neighborhood.

The suspect, identified as C.M., has been accused of strangling Deniz moments after she woke up and discovered he was robbing her apartment, which he had broken into at night by climbing to the third floor.

“I was panicked when she yelled. I entered her room and killed her. Then I took her clarinet and cell phone,” the suspect told police, according to sources speaking to Hürriyet.

The suspect, who has been previously convicted of drug use and theft, was sent to the Istanbul courthouse on May 9. 

Police sources speaking to Turkish media had initially said the crime might not be related to theft, as Deniz’s belongings were not stolen. C.M. admitted that he took Deniz’s clarinet and cell phone soon after the murder.

The singer released her latest album in 2012, composed songs for TV dramas and was continuing to take the stage at venues around Istanbul. Her music incorporated several genres, including alternative, progressive, rock and trip-hop.