Khaberni - The Turkish Supreme Court upheld the life imprisonment sentence against a young man involved in a horrific murder targeting a taxi driver and robbing his belongings, in addition to another 17 years and 8 months for theft and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The incident occurred in the early hours of February 1, 2025, in the Gazı Amir area, when the perpetrator boarded the taxi, and during the trip, he pulled out his pistol and shot the driver, then stole his phone and headphones and fled the scene.
The taxi's camera recorded the incident clearly, showing the perpetrator pretending to withdraw money before firing, the driver falling motionless onto the seat, then the perpetrator searching the car and the driver before fleeing—a scene that caused a stir on social media after it was shared.
During the investigations, the perpetrator confessed that he went out that night intending to commit suicide due to family pressures, but during the trip, a dispute occurred with the driver over the fare payment method, and the perpetrator's sudden outburst led him to pull out his pistol and shoot the driver, then rob him.
He added that he tried contacting the driver's daughter to inform her of what happened, but he did not call emergency services. He also mentioned that he wore a mask and a head cover during the incident to avoid allergies, not to conceal his face, and he collected the spent cartridges to hide the evidence.
The perpetrator's identity was quickly established after reviewing about 70 local surveillance cameras, and he was arrested at his home the following day, facing charges of premeditated murder, theft, and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The initial verdict was issued on March 8, 2024, sentencing him to life imprisonment with an additional 17 years and 8 months.
The appellate courts and the Court of Cassation rejected all appeals filed by the defense, affirming the legality of the proceedings and the accuracy of the punishment estimation commensurate with the severity of the crime.
