HRANT DINK TRIAL TURNED INTO BUFFOONERY

AZG Armenian Daily
10/07/2008

Dink Murder

On July 7 the sixth court trial session on Hrant Dink’s murder was
started in Istanbul. As Ogun Samast had reached the age of 18 by the
date, the trial was open and press was admitted. Samast, organizers
of the assassination Yasin Hayal, Erhan Tuncel and all the other
suspects were present.

Almost all the Turkish newspapers referred to the process in their
yesterday releases. They all state that the trial was turned into a
buffoonery because of the dissoluteness of the suspects.

"Hurriyet" newspaper, whether it was a TV show or a court trial,
represents some episodes. Thus, when Fuad Turgut, lawyer of Yasin
Hayal, tried to ask a question Ogun Samast, the latter exclaimed,
"I have nothing to do with that madman". Then the lawyer asked Samast
whether he had a meeting with Etienne Mahjoupian or someone else in
front of the "Agos" office, the suspect impudently replied that he
was having a rendezvous with Jennifer Lopez there.

After that the lawyer, hinting at the foreign origin of Tuncel’s
girlfriend said him, "She is from Israel. Have you ever thought that
your girlfriend might be an Israeli spy?". Tuncel answered that
the female came from Lebanon, not Israel, then ironically added,
"Maybe she’s the daughter of the President of Israel. I never cared
about that, sorry man".

Later the argument between Hayal and Samast turned to an open quarrel.

After the passions calmed down, law defender Turgut asked Tuncel how
much he was being paid as an informer. The latter considered this
question as slander and personal insult and said that he had been
trying to cease the contacts with the intelligence department for a
long time, but they insisted on proceeding with the work until Tuncel
graduated from the university. The Court chairman asked Tuncel if
he had known professor Ovali, detained by accusation on "Ergenekon"
case. Tuncel gave negative answer, and added that he had prevented
Yasin Hayal from murdering Hrant Dink for at least 5 or 6 times.

The court trial has again been postponed. Until October 13, this time.