Exercising her right of self-defense, Melek İpek released

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Having killed her husband Ramazan İpek, who was torturing her and threatening her with death, Melek İpek has been released.

Arrested pending trial, İpek appeared before the judge at the Antalya 3rd Heavy Penal Court yesterday (April 26).

At the hearing attended by Melek İpek, the plaintiffs and the attorneys of the parties, the prosecutor of the hearing pronounced the opinion as to the accusations and demanded that Melek İpek be sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison for "reckless killing" of Ramazan İpek.

Ziya Berkhan Yaman, the attorney of the plaintiffs, said that there was an attempt to present a bad profile about Ramazan İpek, arguing that it was a defense aimed at evading sentence. He stated that Melek İpek should be penalized on charge of "deliberate killing."

Talking about what Ramazan İpek did to her in her defense, Melek İpek said, "If my husband had not died, I or my children would be dead."

The court has concluded that though a criminal case was filed against İpek for "deliberate killing of the spouse under unjust provocation", she committed the act due to the tension, fear and panic that could be considered excusable as the defendant was acting in defense against an attack on her life, bodily integrity and sexual freedom before and after the incident.

Noting that "there is no ground for penalizing" the defendant for this reason, the court board has released Melek İpek.

'I has made us have a sigh of relief'

Melek İpek's attorney Ahmet Onaran has made a statement after the hearing. Onaran has briefly stated the following:

"Today, the Presiding Judge and the board of the Antalya 3rd Heavy Penal Court gave a ruling that makes our conscience as a nation have a sigh of relief, putting forward the rule of law once again. The court has concluded that though the act has been proven, there is no ground for penalization for exceeding the boundaries of self-defense and ruled for her release.

"During my meeting with İpek in prison, she said that she was sad even though a ruling of release would be given because the father of her children is not alive, but she wanted to reunite with her children as soon as possible. This is the best news of the day. I hope that we will not hear any more news about violence against women or be faced with such news because of the news about violence against women."

What happened?

Melek İpek, using her right of self-defense, shot her husband inflicting violence on her and her children to death with a hunting rifle in Antalya.

She called the gendarmerie and turned herself in after the incident. When she was detained the signs of trauma were visible on her face and body.

While Melek İpek was arrested pending trial, her statement added to the indictment indicated that Melek and Ramazan İpek got married 12 years ago and the man systematically subjected her to violence.

The statements of her two children, also added to the indictment, confirmed what Melek İpek previously said.

The bill of indictment also referred to the statements of a woman who was allegedly having an affair with Ramazan İpek. The woman stated that as he was doing to Melek İpek, the man was inflicting violence on her as well, adding that she was afraid of filing a criminal complaint against the man as he was threatening her with harming her family.

The indictment filed against Melek İpek on charge of "wilful killing" was accepted by the Antalya 3rd Heavy Penal Court. According to the indictment, İpek faces 18 to 24 years in prison. (EKN/SD)