Trial of Dink's murderers to start on July 2

PanARMENIAN.Net - An Istanbul court is to start hearing the case against 19 men charged with involvement in the murder of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist "Agos" weekly editor-in-chief Hrant Dink on July 2. Among the suspects are 17-year-old immediate murderer Ogun Samast, Erhan Tuncel and Yasin Hayal, who have been accused of preparing the murderous assault. The Istanbul prosecutor is seeking life imprisonment for both Tuncel and Hayal, who also face charges of being a senior member of an armed terrorist group. Since Ogun Samast has not reached the age of 18, he could face up to 24 years behind bars for the murder of Dink. The indictment tabled by the prosecutor also called for various terms of imprisonment for Mustafa Ozturk, Tuncay Uzundal, Zeynel Abidin Yavuz, Ahmet Iskender, Ersin Yolcu, Yasar Cihan, Halis Egemen, Salih Hacisalihoglu, Alper Esirgemez, Irfan Ozkan, Osman Alpay, Erbil Susaman, Numan Sisman, Senol Akduman and Veysel Toprak on charges of aiding and abetting in the killing of Dink.



Hrant Dink, the editor of the Turkish-Armenian "Agos" weekly newspaper, was gunned down outside his office in Istanbul on January 19 by 17-year-old Ogun Samast, who is a member of a nationalistic group.