Journalist's Murder Case Barred by Statue of Limitations

Two suspects avoid standing trial in journalist Abdi İpekçi's murder case, as the case closes on prescription after 30 years. Yalçın Özbey and Yusuf Çetinkaya were on trial for their alleged involvement in the murder.

Daily Milliyet's editor-in-chief İpekçi was murdered on February 1, 1979 while he was trying to reach home in his car.

He was once again commemorated besides his grave last month, where participating journalists reacted to the fact that despite the arrest of gunmen, forces behind the incident remains in dark to this day.

Allegedly residing in Belgium, Özbey and Çelikkaya –who is in prison on other charges- didn't attend the hearing at İstanbul 7th High Criminal Court on February 27th.

Prosecutor Fethi Türkmen claimed that the prescription process should be paused concerning the warrant of arrest for Özbey.

Özbey's attorney Ergün Öztürk contested prosecution's comments and pleaded the abatement of charges. The court said that the Penal Code foresees a 20-year period of prescription and this term can be lengthened to 30 years on special provisions. As a result, the judge ruled that the statue of limitations bars the case. As follows, the warrant of arrest for Özbey is removed.

In the indictment, prosecution noted that Mehmet Ali Ağca had been condemned to the death sentence for the murder of İpekçi, while Yavuz Çaylan had been condemned to 3 years in prison for involvement and Mehmet Şener had been acquitted on prescription. 

Ağca didn't mention Özbey's name during his first testimonies but in 1983, while being interrogated for an attempt to kill the Pope in Rome, he claimed that Özbey shot İpekçi.

As Özbey was on the run, he avoided being interrogated at that time. Later, he refused any involvement in the incident during a questioning by the Belgium police.

As a result, the prosecution alleged that there was enough evidence to try Özbey and Çelikkaya, who allegedly confessed to being involved in the planning of the murder.(EÖ/AGÜ)