MURDERER OF TURKISH JOURNALIST HRANT DINK TO STAND TRIAL IN ISTANBUL

Focus Information Agency, Bulgaria
July 1 2007

Istanbul. The criminal proceedings against Ogun Samast, the alleged
murderer of journalist Hrant Dink, start on Monday, the Turkish
media write.

Hrant Dink, who is of Armenian origin, was murdered on Jan. 19th in
Istanbul outside the editor’s office of the Agos newspaper. The trial
against Ogun Samast (17) and the other 12 defendants will be tried
behind closed doors, because Samast is under age. The trial will be
public once Samast turns 18.

The prosecutor’s office demanded a murder sentence of 18 to 24 years in
prison and an additional sentence of 8.5 to 18 years’ imprisonment for
being a member in a terrorist organization and illegal arms possession.