19-year honor killing probe in Batman: 6 arrested

A 19-year-old investigation into a suspected honor killing has culminated in the arrest of six individuals in Batman, Turkey. The case dates back to July 5, 2007, when a decomposed male body was found in the Armutlu village of Kozluk district. Initially, the identity of the deceased could not be determined, and the body was buried in Ankara's cemetery for the unknown.

Despite an initial investigation and a standing search warrant, the case was dismissed in 2023 due to the statute of limitations. However, the Batman Gendarmerie Command's Gendarmerie Crime Investigation Team (JASAT) reopened the investigation. Through field research, technological analysis, and interviews, investigators identified the body as likely belonging to Aydın Özcan, who had no official or electronic records since 2007 and was not reported missing by his family.

DNA samples from Özcan's children, obtained from his religious wife Y.D., were compared with samples from the 2007 body. The lab results confirmed the identity of the deceased as Aydın Özcan. The investigation further uncovered evidence suggesting Özcan was murdered by his family motivated by 'honor and tradition.' It was also revealed that Y.D., his religious wife, had previously cut off her nose for different reasons, an incident that was reported in the national press at the time. Analysis of phone records from 2007 also established connections between the suspects.

Following these findings, an operation was launched on July 1 in Batman, with simultaneous raids in Istanbul and Antalya under the coordination of the Batman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Ten suspects, including Özcan's brothers, were detained on suspicion of premeditated murder motivated by honor and tradition. After processing at the Batman Provincial Gendarmerie Command, the suspects were transferred to court. Six were arrested on charges of premeditated murder motivated by honor and tradition, while four were released under judicial control.