20/05/2024 | Writer: Oğulcan Özgenç
The final hearing of the case against the assailant who targeted transgender woman sex worker D.D. in Ankara, inflicting life-threatening wounds and putting her in imminent danger of death, is scheduled for tomorrow, May 21st, at 10:20 am at the Ankara 33rd Heavy Penal Court.
Lawyer Nergiz Görnaz from the Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association, who is closely monitoring the case, shared details of the trial with KaosGL.org. Görnaz highlighted the recurrent discriminatory practices against transgender women throughout the trial proceedings. Stressing that the attack on D.D. was motivated by hate, Görnaz expressed the following sentiments:
“D.D.’s life was directly targeted, and she sustained multiple stab wounds that were potentially fatal. Despite these circumstances, D.D. found herself listed as a 'defendant' in the case, as the perpetrator also sustained injuries during their own attack. Furthermore, the current stance from the prosecutor’s office seeks punishment for both parties under the charge of ‘attempted intentional killing.’ It is unfathomable to equate culpability between both parties, especially considering D.D.’s physical limitations, which make it implausible for her to have inflicted harm on the perpetrator.”
Expressing their hope for a different outcome from the court’s opinion, Görnaz remarked, “In cases involving male perpetrators, considerations such as unjust provocation and self-defense are frequently entertained, often leading to leniency and discounts for good behavior and fairness. It wouldn’t be surprising if we witness similar legal anomalies favoring the perpetrator in the forthcoming verdict. Nevertheless, we remain optimistic that the court will diverge from the prosecutor’s stance and ensure that Halil G. receives the appropriate punishment he deserves. Should the decision sway in an unfavorable direction, our legal battle will persist steadfastly in support of D.D.”
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
