Sefer Buğra Altundağ, who was tried for the brutal murder of 16-year-old Zehie Helin Reessur in Iskele on 25 January 2023, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, BRTK reported.
The verdict was delivered by the Chief Judge of the Famagusta High Criminal Court, Hasan Dağlı, who held sessions in Iskele. After the ruling, the victim’s family expressed their relief, stating, “Justice has been served”. The atmosphere was emotional as they applauded the decision, declaring, “Allah is great”.
Both the families of the defendant and the victim were present in the courtroom for the verdict.
The High Criminal Court unanimously found Altundağ guilty on all five charges, including premeditated and planned murder. The court imposed a life sentence for the primary offence, as well as 35 years for the second offence and equivalent sentences for the remaining charges, ordering that these sentences be served concurrently.
Following the verdict, Helin’s mother, Zişan Reessur Saltukhan, made a statement to the press, saying, “I am not at peace; my child is gone, I will never see her again. Now, I’m going to the cemetery to give my daughter the good news. We had unwavering faith in justice, and it was delivered. I will go to share the news with my daughter, may she rest in peace. No more Helins should die. Families and the state must protect our children”.
Prosecutor Emine Taşkın and the defence attorney were also present at the reading of the verdict.
An example must be set
Chief Judge Dağlı highlighted that the punishment should serve as a deterrent and be exemplary, given the gravity and severity of the crime. He noted that the defendant, a young offender with no prior record, attempted to escape by destroying evidence, and committed the crime in a premeditated and brutal manner, warranting the harshest penalty.
Pointing out that the offence involved factors that aggravated the penalty, Dağlı stated that no individual may violate another’s right to life and that it is society’s duty to protect this fundamental right.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to such a brutal end to life”
Dağlı stressed that depriving someone of the right to life is irreversible, and that the judiciary cannot overlook such an atrocity. He emphasised that the sentence should be a deterrent, describing the crime as “femicide” and “child murder”. He added that the incident escalated into a planned killing following the words, “I will report you to the police; I will have you killed”.