Şehriban Dinç was shot and killed in Van province in 2016 by her husband Esat Dinç. The Van 1^st High Criminal Court sentenced him to life in prison. However, the Turkish Court of Cassation considered the killer’s defense saying, “I killed her because she cheated on me,” and reversed the verdict. The killer will appear in court again.

MEDINE MAMEDOĞLU

Van- On December 24, 2016, Şehriban Dinç was shot and killed in the İpekyolu district of Van province by her husband Esat Dinç. The Van 1^st High Criminal Court sentenced him to life in prison for “killing his wife” but Erzurum Regional Court of Cassation reversed the verdict on the ground that “there is no evidence refuting the defense of the defendant”. Esat Dinç will appear in court again.

The statements of the defendant were denied

On February 9, 2021, the Van 1^st High Criminal Court sentenced Esat Dinç to aggravated life imprisonment but then reduced the sentence to life imprisonment with good behavior. In the reasoned decision, it is stated that there is no concrete evidence to support the statements of the defendant and that the statements of witnesses and children also deny the statements of the defendant.

In the reasoned decision, it is also stated that the defendant defended himself to reduce his prison sentence and that Esat Dinç claimed his wife had cheated on him to legitimatize his crime.

The Court of Cassation reversed the conviction

After the announcement of the reasoned decision, the file was sent to the Court of Cassation. On September 27, 2021, Erzurum Regional Court of Cassation considered the killer’s defense saying, “I killed her because she cheated on me,” and reversed the verdict on the ground that “there is no evidence refuting the defense of the defendant”.

The first hearing of the retrial will be held on December 30.