‘My father is innocent and should be released’ – Murder accused tells Turkish court
The father and son at the centre of a murder trial in Turkey have proclaimed their innocence, with the latter demanding the acquittal of his father.
The horrific 2011 murder of the two Newry women left the local community in shock.
Marion Elizabeth Graham (54) and Kathy Dinsmore (54), were stabbed to death in a wooded area in Turkey, which the two women and a 15 year old girl were visiting at the time.
Media reports at the time suggested that Recep stabbed the two ladies in a frenzied attack after the women disagreed with him about marriage plans.
According to BBC Northern Ireland, Recep Cetin told the judges today that the trial was ‘his problem’ and that his father Eyup Cetin ‘had nothing to do with this event’.
Echoing his son’s sentiments, co-accused Eyup declared, “I’ve been in jail for about a year. I’m innocent. I demand my release and acquittal.”
The BBC also reported that the lawyer – Baris Kaska – representing the Dinsmore and Graham families insisted that the court should examine fully the details of the crime scene and stated his belief that the crime was not carried out by just one person.
He told the panel of judges in Izmir, “It will be understood when it is researched that it is impossible that only one person committed this crime.”
The victim’s lawyer also told the Turkish court that DNA analysis had showed that another person besides Recep Cetin was at the scene at the time of the murders.
The lawyer defending Recep Cetin said that Recep had ‘acted in self defence’ and called for his client to also be released from custody.
This however, was turned down by the judges on the grounds of the nature of the crime and the level of suspicion involved.
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