"I regret it," Dink's murderer says

PanARMENIAN.Net - The second trial for the murder of Agos newspaper editor-in-chief, Hrant Dink was held yesterday at Istanbul's Fourth High Criminal Court. The suspect in the murder, Ogun Samast, was brought to the court with an official vehicle bearing a sticker which said, "either love it or leave it."



"I took an ecstasy pill from Yasin Hayal on the day of the murder. I did not know Hrant Dink had a family, I regret it," the accused stated.



The trial was not open to the press as the suspect is under the age of 18. Samast claimed that Yasin Hayal threatened him and his family. "We planned the event with Erhan and Yasin. Yasin knew that Erhan was a police informer; so he told me not to speak about all of the details when he was around."



The next court session is due February 11, 2008, Sabah newspaper reports.



Hrant Dink was gunned January 19, 2007 at his newspaper premises in Istanbul. Ogun Samast and a dozen of Trabzon residents were detained a day later. The prosecution demands a life sentence for the murderer and 18-24 years of imprisonment for the other involved.