Train crash case to be dropped after years
SAKARYA - Hürriyet Daily News
Forty-one people died and 90 were injured in the incident that happened more than seven years ago in the northern province of Sakarya’s Pamukova district. DHA photo
A criminal court is expected today to drop the case of a train accident which killed 41 and injured and nearly 100 people in 2004 due to statue of limitations.The incident happened more than seven years ago near Mekece village in Sakarya’s Pamukova district. Forty-one people died and 90 were injured due to railways being unready for a high-speed passenger train.
Although the Sakarya Court of Serious Crimes sentenced two train operators between 15 and 30 months in prison, the Supreme Court of Appeal rejected to the decision twice and the case was postponed to today.
However, the case is expected to be dropped due to statue of limitations, daily Vatan reported.
The victims’ relatives and lawyers have reacted to the judicial process. Lawyer Engin Baltacı said the only two conductors were tried despite proof from the expert’s report that half of the fault belonged to the railway. “The case is over forever. We don’t have any further chances such as applying to a higher court or demanding the case to continue. The crime will go unpunished,” Baltacı said.
Leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also yesterday criticized the timeout verdict from his Twitter account. “The public case of 41 people killed will be dropped tomorrow (today). This is the justice of the [ruling] Justice and Development Party (AKP), the real culprit is the AKP as I always said,” he said
