Contradictory testimonies and evasive answers marked the first hearing of the Narin Güran murder trial at Diyarbakır (Amed) High Criminal Court, as four defendants face potential life sentences for the murder of the eight-year-old.
The court confirmed on Saturday the continued remand in custody of mother Yüksel Güran, brother Enes Guran, uncle Salim Guran and neighbour Nevzat Bahtiyar at the end of the three-day hearing. The case involves 22 defendants in total, with prosecutors seeking life imprisonment for four of them.
Narin Güran was murdered on 21 August in the village of Tavşantepe (Çuli), Diyarbakır. During the hearing, defendants repeatedly responded with “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember” to crucial questions about the circumstances of her death.
The case has drawn nationwide attention, with protesters across Turkey demanding transparency in the investigation. Allegations of evidence tampering by state officials have fuelled concerns about the integrity of the case.
The family’s connection to the Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR) has introduced political dimensions to the investigation and raised questions about potential motives behind the murder.
