21/05/2024 | Writer: Oğulcan Özgenç
The final hearing of the D.D. case was held today. Halil G. was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months and D.D. was sentenced to 11 months and 7 days for “intentional injury” in the case where both parties were tried for “attempted intentional killing”.
Today, the final hearing of the case concerning the assailant who attacked and severely injured D.D., a transgender woman sex worker in Ankara, leaving her in a life-threatening condition, took place at the Ankara 33rd Heavy Penal Court.
During the final hearing of the case, where both parties were prosecuted for “attempted intentional killing,” D.D.’s attorney emphasized that D.D. was 80 percent disabled and physically incapable of stabbing the defendant, Halil G. The lawyer argued, “D.D. bit Halil G.’s hand solely in self-defense. We seek for Halil G. to be convicted for attempting to take D.D.’s life with malicious intent. Furthermore, we request that self-defense provisions be applied for D.D. in this matter.”
The court sentenced Halil G. to 6 years and 3 months for “attempted intentional killing.” Additionally, Halil G. received a 7-month and 15-day prison term and was fined 6,000 TL for breaching the “Law for Firearms, Knives, and Other Tools”. The decision on the delaying the pronouncement of the judgement has been taken with regard to the sentence for violation of the law.
D.D., who was stabbed by Halil G. and faced life-threatening injuries, was sentenced to 11 months and 7 days for “intentional injury,” with the sentence being postponed.
Lawyer Nergiz Görnaz from the Red Umbrella Association, who monitored the case, provided an evaluation of the verdict to KaosGL.org. Görnaz emphasized that self-defense provisions should have been applied for D.D., expressing, “While it is relieving that the requested sentence of ‘attempted intentional killing’ for D.D. was not imposed, it remains unacceptable to convict her of intentional injury while defending herself during the assault.”
Görnaz expressed concern over the reduced sentence given to the perpetrator, Halil G., stating, “Despite the sentencing for the offenses attributed to him, we find the decision of 6 years and 3 months unjust. While we hope for a more satisfactory outcome through the appeal process, this entire ordeal has underscored the arduous and intimidating nature of the fight for justice for LGBTI+ individuals. It’s challenging to claim that justice has truly been served, and D.D. finds solace in the sentence received.”
What happened and what is in the indictment?
In the article titled “Two Trials, Justice on Camera” Yıldız Tar reported the following details from the indictment:
“As stated in the indictment, Halil G. encountered D.D. while she was waiting for a client on the street. After visiting several locations, he urged to accompany D.D. to her residence. Once there, he inquired about security cameras within the premises. Upon learning there were none, he proceeded to retrieve a knife from his pocket and initiated the attack, stabbing D.D. in the chest and abdomen, resulting in severe injuries.
Halil G. claimed that D.D. also wielded a knife and attacked him, but D.D.’s significant disability in her right hand makes this assertion unlikely. Let alone using a knife, she is incapable of even carrying out daily tasks with her right hand.
D.D. contends that she acted in self-defense, managing to repel Halil G.’s aggression by biting the hand holding the knife. As a result, Halil G. stumbled, potentially injuring his arm. After the altercation, Halil G. fled on foot, while D.D. required hospitalization for a week due to the severity of her injuries. Forensic analysis confirmed the life-threatening nature of the attack, prompting D.D. to undergo multiple surgeries for treatment.”
During the last hearing on March 26th at the Ankara 33rd Heavy Penal Court, the prosecutor delivered their final opinion on the case. The prosecutor advocated for the defendant Halil G. to be convicted of attempted intentional killing and violating the ‘Law for the Firearms, Knives, and Other Tools’. However, the prosecutor failed to acknowledge the fact that D.D. is 80 percent disabled in her right hand and still pushed for her to be sentenced for ‘attempted intentional killing’.
Furthermore, the requests of Ankara Bar Association LGBTIQ+ Rights Center and the Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association to be involved in the case had been also denied.”
Tags: human rights
