Istanbul, February 23 – The indictment prepared against prosecutor M.Ç.K., who was arrested on charges of shooting female judge A.K., has been accepted by the Istanbul 35th High Criminal Court. The court has scheduled the trial to begin on April 3rd.
Details of the Indictment
The prosecutor faces a prison sentence ranging from 20 years and 2 months to 42 years and 3 months. The indictment, prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, details the events leading up to the shooting incident involving judge A.K., who serves at the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice.
Relationship and Threats
According to the indictment, an emotional relationship developed between the victim, A.K., and the defendant, M.Ç.K., in mid-2023. This relationship eventually ended. The indictment states that M.Ç.K. feared that the disclosure of their relationship and its aftermath would severely and negatively impact his professional career and social life. Furthermore, given that A.K. and her son lived in the same complex as his parents, he was concerned about potential negative reactions from A.K. or her son when he visited his parents. He also worried about how to explain this situation to his parents. Consequently, M.Ç.K. concluded that the only solution was for A.K. to request a transfer to another city outside Istanbul, move, and leave. He then began to pressure her to do so, with increasing intensity.
The indictment further alleges that the defendant threatened A.K. by frequently visiting her office at the courthouse, calling her, sending messages, and sending photos and visuals of firearms. These actions created significant unease and concern for A.K.’s safety, as M.Ç.K. persistently attempted to contact her through various communication channels.
Despite A.K.’s attempts to block him on all communication platforms, M.Ç.K. continued his threats by making calls from private numbers and writing intimidating messages in the transaction descriptions of bank transfers.
The Shooting Incident
On January 13th, unable to reach A.K. by phone, M.Ç.K. went to her office at the courthouse to issue a final warning. During an ongoing argument, A.K. repeatedly asked him to leave, but he refused to vacate the room.
The indictment states that M.Ç.K. drew his pistol and pointed it at A.K.’s face before putting it back. While witness Yakup Karadağ was present in the room, A.K. asked for his help. At this point, M.Ç.K. again drew his weapon and fired. The indictment specifies that M.Ç.K. wounded A.K. in a vital body area. Immediately after, he fired a second shot with the intent to hit her again, but this attempt was thwarted by the effective intervention of the witness who stepped between them.
Charges and Sentencing Request
M.Ç.K. is charged with attempted intentional homicide against a woman, violating workplace immunity through coercion and threats, threatening with a firearm in a chain of events, illegally obtaining personal data, and persistent stalking. The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence of 20 years and 2 months to 42 years and 3 months.
Security Camera Footage
Security camera footage from the Regional Court of Justice, related to the incident, shows the prosecutor quickly walking towards the judge’s office. Shortly after the incident, citizens and courthouse personnel gathered on the floor. The footage also captures the defendant prosecutor being taken away by police officers from the scene and medical personnel transporting the injured judge on a stretcher to the hospital.
The trial is set to commence on April 3rd, where the court will hear the case and deliver its verdict.
