Suspect who killed 16-year-old Sıla Şentürk in Giresun arrested

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Having stabbed 16-year-old Sıla Şentürk to death in Giresun, 21-year-old Hüseyin Can G. was arrested today (February 17).

Referred to the Giresun Criminal Judgeship of Peace, the suspect has been arrested on charge of "deliberate killing of a child or a person who is not in a state to protect oneself physically or mentally".

Taken out of the courthouse under strict security measures, male perpetrator G. has been sent to the Giresun Type E Prison.

Making a statement about the issue in front of the Giresun Courthouse, Giresun Bar Association Chair Soner Karademir has indicated that the news alleging that her family forced Sıla Şentürk to get engaged do not reflect the truth. He has also referred to the picture shared on some news websites and announced that this picture is not that of Hüseyin Can G.

According to lawyer Karademir, the trial where the suspect faces sexual abuse charges is still ongoing at the high criminal court. Noting that there is a report previously taken from a hospital and suggesting that the suspect has a mental retardation by 50 percent, the Bar Chair has said:

"But the Giresun Forensic Medicine Institution also has a report indicating that he has a level of intelligence that enables him to understand that sexual abuse is a crime. So, we think he has criminal liability."

Statement by the Ministry

The Ministry of Family and Social Services has also released a written statement about the issue. The Ministry has briefly said:

"Meeting on a WhatsApp group set up for internship in 2020, S.Ş. and H.C.G. developed an emotional intimacy. On March 3, 2021, S.Ş. was subjected to violence by her family on the grounds that this relationship was not approved by her family. As a result of the incidents that happened, the girl and the suspect ran away together. Upon the family's complaint, S.Ş. and H.C.G. were caught by police officers at a security checkpoint.

"On March 25, 2021, an emergency protection order was issued for S.Ş. and she was placed in an institution affiliated with our Ministry. In this process, H.C.G. was arrested upon a complaint against him.

"As a result of the inquiries conducted and in line with the wishes of both the family and the child, the girl returned to her family on April 12, 2021 with a measure of offering counseling to the child.

"On November 11, 2021, in the trial of abuse of S.Ş., the family pressed charges against H.C.G. but the girl dropped her complaint. As the suspect submitted a report indicating that he is disabled by 50 percent and S.Ş. withdrew her complaint, H.C.G. was released pending trial. In response to this, the father requested that S.Ş. be placed under institutional care.

"On November 16, 2021, upon the order of the prosecutor's office, a second emergency protection order was issued for S.Ş. and she was placed under protection at an institution affiliated with our Ministry.

"In the upcoming process, S.Ş. filed a complaint against H.C.G. again and wanted to return to her family. The family also applied to take S.Ş. back. On the condition that the measure of counseling remained in effect, the girl went back to her family on December 7, 2021.

"At the last meeting held as part of the counseling measure on January 20, 2022, no mention of a risky or threatening situation was made by the child or the family and no such application was made.

"After the murder on February 16, 2022, the specialists of our Ministry have initiated counseling and psychosocial support efforts with the family." (AÖ/SD)