First hearing held in case of 'massacre' accident in Mersin: Twins and cousins lost their lives

In the traffic accident that occurred in the Akdeniz district of Mersin on February 2, twin sisters Büşra and Kübra Güney (15) and their cousins Nejla Öztürk (16) and Zehra Serdil Atak (18) lost their lives. The vehicle driven by psychologist M.K., travelling from Tarsus towards Mersin, lost control while trying to overtake and plowed into pedestrians waiting on the median. The driver M.K. was arrested, while the injured Burkan Acar and Yunus Bagı were treated. According to the prepared indictment, the driver was found 'primarily at fault' in the expert report and the trial began with a demand for up to 22.5 years in prison.

The first hearing of the case was held at the Mersin 7th Heavy Penal Court, and the hearing was attended by the victims, the injured, and the families of the deceased as well as the defendant. The expert report prepared by the prosecutor's office definitively revealed that the driver entered the intersection, where the speed limit was 50 km/h, at approximately 149 km/h and caused the accident by hitting the pedestrians. The report stated that the defendant was primarily at fault and the pedestrians who lost their lives had no fault. The court panel decided to conduct an on-site inspection for the determination of evidence and adjourned the hearing.

According to the statements taken in the defense, defendant M.K. tried to defend himself by claiming that a truck in the right lane made a lane violation at the time of the incident. The defendant alleged that the vehicle was thrown onto the median and hit the pedestrians after he panicked due to the truck contacting his vehicle, and he did not remember hitting them. M.K. claimed that the incident was not intentional, his speed was around 70-80 km/h, and he stepped on the brake until he died, stating, 'If I had seen the pedestrians, I would have gone under the truck.' However, forensic and expert reports revealed that the accident was caused by excessive speed and recklessness, contrary to the defendant's defense.

Burkan Acar, who was injured in the accident, stated in his testimony that they were waiting on the median to cross the street after getting off the minibus when the vehicle hit them. Although Acar did not remember the moment of the accident, he emphasized that he stayed in bed for two months, his leg was disabled, and he complained against the defendant. The other injured party, Yunus Bagı, connected via SEGBIS, stated that the collision happened within a few seconds after seeing the vehicle's headlights and demanded that the defendant be punished, noting their victim status.

The families of the victims experienced emotional moments in the court while demanding justice. Mahmut Güney, the father who lost his twin daughters, stating that his children's dreams were destroyed, said, 'I had 2 children, now I am childless,' and demanded the heaviest punishment. Mother Hava Öztürk, who had previously lost her son, and mother Hatice Güney Atak, who lost her daughter, emphasized that what happened was a murder. Lawyer Osman Sevdalı, speaking after the hearing, stated that scientific data showed a speed of 149 km/h and that this was not an accident but a 'massacre committed with probable intent,' adding that they would continue the legal struggle to the end.