JINHA

MERSIN - The first hearing began in the case of the rape and killing of 20-year-old university student Özgecan Aslan today in Tarsus, Turkey. In testimony that contradicts earlier statements, defendants have attempted to portray themselves as "victimized."

When the burned and raped body of young Özgecan Aslan was found in February of this year in Mersin province, it was the straw that broke the camel's back for women in Turkey. Özgecan's resistance has made her a hero for women across the country, who took to the streets for Özgecan and have now showed up in force for the trial of her three killers: bus driver Suphi Altındöken, his son Necmettin and their friend Fatih Gökçe.

Tensions started early at the courthouse, with guards refusing to let the women's groups into the building, saying there was insufficient room in the courthouse. Many women's groups booed the attendees from the women's group KADEM, known for being close to the ruling AKP--which has enforced a condition of impunity for crimes against women. While not all women's groups could enter the courthouse, those who were outside kept up chants and actions.

As the hearing got underway, the crowd expressed its discontent almost immediately. Defendants responded negatively to the court's inquiry as to whether they have a criminal record, a falsehood that earned them boos from the crowd. Notably, there were two female judges on the bench--a rarity in Turkey. All three defendants are facing life in prison, although their lawyers have sought sentence reductions.

Suphi Altındöken attempted to portray himself in his testimony as a victim, spilling several tears (to the repeated objections of the bench). The bus driver claimed that Özgecan had flagged down his bus and asked him to take her to the city center, despite the fact that it was past business hours. When he took a longer road in order not to be caught working off the clock, he claimed, she attacked him. He also claimed that she scratched his face, at which point he hit back ("everyone knows I'm a nervous person," he said.) When she was wounded, he said, he called his friend Fatih Gökçe to ask for help taking her to the hospital.

At this point in the testimony, Suphi began to pin the crimes solely on Fatih. He claimed it was Fatih's idea to kill her in cold blood, as well as to cut off her hands and burn her body to hide the incriminating evidence under her fingernails. He also claimed that Fatih apparently raped her and threatened to kidnap his children if he told anyone about the crime.

The bench had the tape of Suphi's earlier testimony played before the court. A number of inconsistencies in the testimony emerged: in his earlier statement Suphi had mentioned several other passengers that night who were on board at the same time as Özgecan and that he had mentioned the pepper spray Özgecan used. Suphi brushed off the inconsistencies.

Women outside the court, who made several statements decrying the absence of justice in crimes against women, vowed to remain outside the courthouse for the duration of the trial.

(gc-be/fk/cm)