The Justice Served: The Conviction of the Murderous Lover of Tuğçe
The Punishment of Tuğçe’s Murderer Revealed
Tuğçe Can, an elderly care technician and one of the three children of Emine-Bekir Can couple, tragically lost her life in a knife attack by her university student lover Onur Kaya. The incident occurred on January 12 at the entrance of the apartment where Tuğçe and her twin sister lived in Yenibağlar District, Çamlıca District of Tepebaşı.
Following the murder, Onur Kaya consumed rat poison but was later taken into custody after receiving medical treatment. He was arrested on the charge of ‘deliberate killing’. The judge ruling on the case ordered an aggravated life sentence for Onur Kaya for “deliberate killing by design, with a monstrous feeling and tormenting”, as well as a prison sentence of up to 3 years for “blackmail”.
Recently, the trial concluded at the Eskişehir 1st High Criminal Court, where Onur Kaya made his final defense. Expressing deep regret, Kaya stated, “I wish this had not happened.” The court board sentenced him to aggravated life imprisonment for “deliberate killing against a woman” and an additional 1-year imprisonment for “blackmail”.
Following the verdict, Tuğçe Can’s mother, Emine, father, Bekir, and twin sister, Tuğba, hugged each other. Emine Can mentioned that the decision would not bring back her child, but it provided some relief. She expressed her satisfaction with the defendant receiving a life sentence, stating, “Even though I cannot bring my child back, knowing that he will rot within those four walls gives me a little more relief.”
Tuğçe’s twin sister, Tuğba, echoed her mother’s sentiments and emphasized that the punishment was well-deserved. She said, “This was the punishment we wanted. It was better for him to rot inside. It’s been 6-7 months since I lost the two of us. We didn’t know what it was to live, but at least a little bit of water was sprinkled on us.”
Father Bekir Can expressed his grief over the loss of his daughter and declared that the fire within their family would not be extinguished as long as Kaya lived. He remarked, “He received the punishment he deserves. Thank you very much to everyone.”
The lawyers of the Can family, Çelik Erimez and Ata Şahin, expressed their satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that it was the most severe and correct punishment for the accused.
The conclusion of the trial brings some closure to the Can family, although it cannot undo the pain of their loss. They can now find solace in knowing that justice has been served for Tuğçe.
