Şirin Kabakçı requests extra time to respond to the witness testimony
Trial where since shuttered Zaman daily’s Konya correspondent Şirin Kabakçı faces “membership in a terrorist organization” charges adjourned until October 15th in order to go through with the necessary process to identify witness Burhan Kaya’s testimony
İstanbul - Sixth hearing of the trial where since shuttered Zaman daily’s Konya correspondent Şirin Kabakçı faces “membership in a terrorist organization” charges was held at İstanbul 35th High Criminal Court today. Kabakçı remained in detention for 19 months before being released during the fourth hearing of the trial. Kabakçı and his lawyers were present in the courtroom for today’s hearing.
The court declared that minutes of witness Burhan Kaya’s photo identification proceedings was sent over to be evaluated and added to the case file by the Konya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Public prosecutor Ahmet Gündoğdu stated, “We have nothing to add to the information and documents disclosed. We will wait for missing documents to be completed.”
Kabakçı’s lawyer Cumali Aydemir pointed out that they haven’t been able to see the witness testimony that entered the case file as part of the effective remorse law. Aydemir requested extra time to prepare a defence statement in response to the testimony. Aydemir added that they demand the witness to be heard again if need be.
Kabakçı noted that he repeats his defence statements from previous hearings and added, “I do now know of Burhan Kaya, who testified against me as part of the effective remorse law. I will scrutinize his testimony and present a statement in response later.” Kabakçı requested additional time to respond to Kaya’s testimony.
The court decided to go through with the necessary process to identify Burhan Kaya’s witness testimony, which was sent over by the Konya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The trial is adjourned until October 15th.