Three defendants released in Gezi victim case

KAYSERİ – Doğan News Agency

A local court ruled on April 18 for the release of three defendants in the case of Gezi victim Ali İsmail Korkmaz who was beaten to death during the Gezi Park demonstrations in 2013.

The Kayseri 3rd Court of Serious Crimes ruled for the release of civilian defendants İsmail Koyuncu, Ramazan Koyuncu and Muhammet Vatansever who were given six years and eight months in prison each over manslaughter.

It also ruled for the continued arrest of two police officers Mevlüt Saldoğan and Yalçın Akbulut for their previous penalties. 

The court had initially sentenced Saldoğan to 13 years in prison but reduced the sentence to 10 years and 10 months. The other police officer Akbulut had also received a reduction in his sentence, which was originally 12 years but is now 10 years.

The other defendant police officers, Hüseyin Engin and Şaban Gökpınar, were acquitted as the other defendant Ebubekir Harlar, who was previously released, was given three years and four months in jail.

Meanwhile, the lawyer of the Korkmaz family, Ayhan Erdoğan, said they would appeal the court ruling.

Korkmaz, 19, was beaten to death by a group of officers and civilians in the Central Anatolian province of Eskişehir during the 2013 Gezi protests.