ADANA - Seriosly ill-prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan was not released in the retrial despite his health problems. Not being able to make his defence due to his hearing impairment, a guard in the courtroom told the judge, "He can't understand or hear you".

 

The trial of 83-year-old seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Gendarmerie Regional Commander Brigadier General Bahtiyar Aydın on October 22, 1993, in Lice district of Diyarbakır, was held at Adana 7th High Criminal Court as part of the retrial. . Lawyers Yakup Ataş and Tugay Bek were present at the hearing, which Özkan attended with the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS) from the prison. Özkan who had hearing impairment could not make his defence or understand what the judge asked. A guardian standing next to Özkan said, "He can't hear you, or understand you."

 

The lawyers who took the floor at the hearing demanded that Özkan be released, taking into account his health condition. The court board, rejecting the lawyers' request, claimed that the Lice Case, which was held at the İzmir 1st High Criminal Court, was not concluded.

 

Deciding to continue Özkan's detention, the court adjourned the hearing to December 21.