10/04/2023 | Writer: Yıldız Tar
The trial of Mustafa Fidan, who killed Ecem Seçkin, begins on June 16. The autopsy report revealed 31 stab wounds, 8 of which were fatal. According to the indictment, Mustafa Fidan had gone to Ecem’s house with three knives!
The indictment in the murder of Ecem Seçkin was filed. Public Prosecutor Filiz Bulut demanded that Mustafa Fidan, who killed Ecem on the night between January 4 and January 5, to be sentenced for intentional killing with premeditation, brutally or through torment in order to conceal an offense, destroy evidence, facilitate the commission of another offense or prevent the apprehension, carrying an unlicensed knife and qualified robbery with the use of a weapon, in residence, at night. The case's first trial will be heard at İzmir 17th Heavy Penal Court on June 16, at 14.10 pm.
The first days of 2023 witnessed the murder of a trans woman once again. Ecem Seçkin, a sex worker trans woman living in Alsancak, İzmir, was murdered by her client. Following the murder, Mustafa Fidan was arrested as a defendant on January 5, around 02.30 am.
Public Prosecutor Filiz Bulut filed the indictment based on the statement of the defendant, witness acknowledgments, camera footage, autopsy and crime scene investigation reports. Seçkin’s mother, father and brother were included in the file as complainants. Seçkin’s family is represented by Attorney Sena Yazıbağlı and Attorney Mahmut Şeren, who are also members of İzmir Bar Association LGBTI+ Rights Commission.
The defendant had gone to Ecem’s house with three knives!
One of the trans women witnesses included in the indictment said that Ecem had left her house by saying “My client will come” and soon after she had heard shouting from Ecem’s house. Therewith having gone up to window and seen nothing, the witness told that she went out the street where she met Mustafa Fidan. Mustafa Fidan dodged the witness’s question “Why are you shouting?” Then the witness, who was also Ecem’s friend, called her and she realized that the sound of the phone ringing was coming over Fidan. When the witness asked “Why do you have Ecem’s phone, give it back to me immediately”, Fidan started to run away. While running away, Ecem’s bag, phone and a knife chucked down.
Then the witness went to Ecem’s house with another friend. The door wasn’t opened and they got in by breaking the door and they found Ecem lying on the floor. Meanwhile Mustafa Fidan was trying to escape to Torbalı in a commercial taxi he had taken. The police detained Fidan in the taxi.
Although Fidan didn’t admit intentional killing in his statement, 31 stab wounds, 8 of which were fatal, were revealed in the autopsy report.
And the criminal report revealed that Fidan entered the house with three knives, and he didn’t have a license to carry one of the knives, which needed to be licensed.
Fidan’s lawyer said that his client suffered from bipolar disorder and that the defendant’s mental illness should be taken into consideration. Therewith Fidan was referred to a hospital. Medical Board determined that Fidan didn’t have a mental illness that would prevent or reduce his ability to perceive the legal consequences of his crimes and direct his behavior.
First trial is on June 16
The prosecutor stated that Fidan had committed the act of intentional killing with knife, with premeditation, brutally or through torment in order to conceal an offense, destroy evidence, facilitate the commission of another offense or prevent apprehension. In addition she demanded that Fidan should be put on trial on the grounds of carrying an unlicensed knife and qualified robbery with the use of a weapon, in a residence, at night.
A lawsuit was filed upon the admission of the indictment. The first trial of the case will be heard at İzmir 17th Heavy Penal Court, on June 16, at 14.10 pm.
Translation: Selma Koçak
Tags: human rights, women
