Health condition of singing contestant improving: Doctor

ISTANBUL

AA Photo

The doctor of 19-year-old singing contestant Mutlu Kaya, who was shot in the head allegedly over her decision to join the singing competition, has stated the young woman’s health condition was improving. 

Kaya has been recovering at the intensive care unit of a hospital in southeastern Diyarbakır province where she has been in an induced coma for more than two days.

Her doctor, Ulaş Aktaş, made a statement on May 20 announcing they were planning to start waking her on May 21.

“Mutlu Kaya was unconscious when she was brought to our hospital and we put her to sleep due to a large oedema [a build-up of fluid] in her brain. However, her CT results from this morning demonstrate that the oedema has shrunk. Tomorrow [May 21], we will start waking her up but the process may take a few days,” Aktaş said. 

Sibel Can’s visit

In the meantime, famous folk singer Sibel Can, who was impressed by Kaya during the preselection period of the singing competition and who has supported her throughout the process, flew to Diyarbakır to pay Kaya’s family a visit.

Can said she was expecting a worse situation but seeing Kaya and talking to her doctor gave her hope. 

“I saw her at the intensive care unit, I held her hand. She looked a lot better than I expected. I hope everything will be better soon. Let’s all pray for Mutlu’s recovery,” Can was quoted as saying during a press conference. 

Prime suspect caught

On May 20, the Criminal Magistrate of Peace in Ergani ordered the arrest of Veysi Ercan, reported as Kaya’s boyfriend, charging him with shooting the woman. 

According to his testimony, Ercan had previously convinced Kaya not to participate in the TV contest titled “O Ses Türkiye” (Turkey’s version of “The Voice”). Kaya, however, later participated in another, less popular TV contest with a similar theme, “Sesi Çok Güzel” (Her Voice Is So Beautiful).

Meanwhile, a police investigation revealed Kaya had filed a complaint against Ercan four months ago on charges of intimidation and threatening. 

Police had been trying to locate Ercan, as initial investigations revealed his presence at the crime scene at around 3 a.m., which coincides with the time of the attack. 

The suspect also confirmed being near the victim’s house at the time of the crime, but claimed that he was not involved in the attack, although he admitted he was drunk.

“I love her, how could I have shot her?” he asked. 

The shots went through Kaya’s window at 3:30 a.m. on May 18, after the assailant broke into the garden of her house. Kaya was seriously wounded by a bullet that went through her head. 

Police had been unable to apprehend Ercan earlier, as he had turned off his mobile phone and fled town. 
Ercan claimed he was not running away but rather avoiding a confrontation with Kaya’s family.

“I turned off my phone and did not go to the hospital because I was worried about her family’s reaction,” he claimed.

Rising concerns about violence against women

Meanwhile, Can shared a picture of Kaya on her Instagram account. 

“My beautiful girl Mutlu, how could they wound you? I am very sad,” she wrote. 

There has been rising concern in Turkey about acts of violence against women. In 2014 alone, 294 women were killed, with 47 percent of them for wanting to make independent decisions, according to a report by the Stop Women Homicides Platform. 

According to the platform, the death figure has already reached 91 in Turkey since the start of 2015.