UPDATE: Second hearing begins in Narin Güran murder case – suspect’s identity remains a mystery
Same Answer to Every Question: I Don’t Know, I Don’t Remember
Nevzat Bahtiyar appeared before the court as one of the defendants in the trial for the murder of 8-year-old Narin Güran in Diyarbakır. Facing charges of aggravated life imprisonment, Bahtiyar responded to the court president’s inquiries with a consistent answer:
-Is there anything you want to be investigated?
Bahtiyar: No.
-Is there anything you want to add?
Bahtiyar: No.
-Is there anything you want to say other than the last session?
Bahtiyar: No.
Did you kill Narin?
Bahtiyar: No.
During the questioning by the lawyers, Bahtiyar’s responses were as follows:
– (On the day of the incident) Was your son Muhammad at home?
Bahtiyar: I can’t remember.
– How does Salim know which football school his son goes to?
Bahtiyar: I don’t know, I didn’t record it. My oldest son recorded it, I don’t know.
– Can Salim know this?
Bahtiyar: I don’t know.
– Do you remember what you did on August 28?
Bahtiyar: It’s been 4 months, I don’t remember.
– How does your son know that his body was left on the side of the barn?
Bahtiyar: I didn’t tell anyone.
– Did you tell him in prison?
Bahtiyar: I can’t remember.
– Did you go to the village the day Narin was found?
Bahtiyar: No.
– In the camera recordings, questions are asked about Salim’s relations in the village. You say, ‘It’s not there.’ But you say there is in later statements?
Bahtiyar: I can’t remember.
– You took Narin’s body and left the house. Can you tell us what happened next?
Bahtiyar: I took the body and left it in the vehicle. At that time, Salim came and took the blanket. I don’t know where he went at that time.
– Where was that vehicle?
Bahtiyar: I don’t know.
– Did you open Narin’s bag while taking her to the stream?
Bahtiyar: No, I just took his belt and tied the bag.
– You talked to Necmettin Kaya on the phone at 00.30 on the day of the incident. Do you remember what you talked about?
Bahtiyar: No.
– You said, ‘Salim came with his vehicle, using the mosque road, and received the blanket there.’ Explain this.
Bahtiyar: He came from the mosque road. (Upon being asked to show it on the map) I don’t remember. I did not go to the Uzunbahçe side except on the day of the incident.
– In Narin’s report, PSA was found in her underwear. A pre-sperm finding.
Bahtiyar: I did no such thing. I left a stone on Narin.
– What did you do there for 38 minutes?
Bahtiyar: First I looked for rope. I waited to close the sack. I didn’t put the hook in the sack, they might have followed me.
– Do you think that Salim Güran committed this murder and that the family slandered you?
Bahtiyar: Salim told me with his own words that he killed Narin. I don’t know why they slandered me.
In each response, Nevzat Bahtiyar consistently maintained his stance of not knowing or not remembering the details surrounding the case. The trial continues as more evidence is presented in court.
