New remand in the north for murder suspects
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by brother » Wed Feb 09, 2005 12:33 pm
Murder suspects walk free
By By Simon Bahceli
EIGHT men suspected of involvement in the murder of Turkish Cypriot businessman Elmas Guzelyurtlu, his wife and teenage daughter yesterday walked free after authorities in the north ruled they had insufficient evidence to bring them to trial or justify their continued detention.
The decision was greeted with shock as the eight were unconditionally released yesterday lunchtime, despite claims by Greek Cypriot police that they have evidence incriminating at least five of them.
“There is no evidence that can justify court proceedings against the men,” Turkish Cypriot ‘attorney general’ Akin Sait told the Cyprus Mail shortly after the suspects were released yesterday.
Elmas Guzelyurtlu, his wife Zerrin and their 15-year-old daughter Eylul were found dead in their family car on the verge of the Nicosia-Larnaca road on the morning of January 15. Each of them had been killed by a single bullet to the head.
In the days following what has been dubbed the most horrific crime in Cyprus’ recent history, Turkish Cypriot authorities arrested a total of eight suspects, while police in the Republic collected evidence from the scene of the crime, and from the Guzelyurtlu home in Ayios Dhometios.
There then followed a bitter dispute between the two sides over where the suspects should be tried, with the authorities in the north refusing to hand the suspects over to the south and Greek Cypriot police rejecting pleas from the north for evidence the south said could incriminate at least five of the suspects.
Cyprus police, in the meantime, issued arrest warrants for five of the suspects, and alerted Interpol and Europol in order that the be arrested if they left the island.
Sait defended the north’s decision to release the eight yesterday saying: “At this stage we have decided not to apply for a further extension of custody, and, as their period of detention has come to an end, we are obliged to release them”.
He added, however, that the release of the suspects did not mean the investigation into the triple murder had ended.
“The investigation will continue, and whatever now emerges will be dealt with by the law office and the police [in the north],” he insisted.
Sait said the north’s refusal to hand over the suspects stemmed from “constitutional and legal requirements” that made it impossible to do so, and lay any blame for the deadlock between the two police forces on the Republic.
“Even with a crime as heinous as one in which three people died, the Greek Cypriots have refused to respond positively to our requests. Therefore, we have been left with no alternative but to release the suspects,” he said.
No restrictions were placed on the eight and, as far as the Turkish Cypriot authorities are concerned, they are free, if they wish, to leave the island, Sait added.
He also referred to statements by a Turkish Cypriot lawyer, who began representing four of the suspects but resigned in protest at the north’s handling of the case, that his clients wished to be tried in the south saying: “If this statement is still valid, they can, of their own will, go to the Greek Cypriot side and be arrested.”
Asked whether he was concerned that the north might be releasing Guzelyurtlu’s killers into the public domain, Sait said: “I am not saying I’m not concerned that they could be guilty, but we have no evidence.”
He added, however, that the door remained open to the Greek Cypriot police to provide the north with evidence of the men’s involvement in the murder.
Lawyer Erden Algun, representing four of the men released yesterday, said he was pleased with the decision and that his clients were now free to travel “anywhere in the world they please”.
Justice Minister Doros Theodorou disagreed, however, saying, “If they travel outside the occupied area, they will be arrested – even if they go to Turkey”.
Theodorou said he believed the north would pay a “high political price” for releasing the suspects, but added: “Maybe after the elections [in the north] they [the suspects] will be rearrested and sent south.”
He said he believed the decision to release the suspects was politically motivated in order to appeal to Turkish Cypriot separatist hardliners, and “immigrants”.
A UN spokesman expressed sadness yesterday that the two sides had failed to break the deadlock saying: “We regard the breakdown as regrettable”. He confirmed that the UN had been active in conveying information between the two sides during the investigation.
By By Simon Bahceli
EIGHT men suspected of involvement in the murder of Turkish Cypriot businessman Elmas Guzelyurtlu, his wife and teenage daughter yesterday walked free after authorities in the north ruled they had insufficient evidence to bring them to trial or justify their continued detention.
The decision was greeted with shock as the eight were unconditionally released yesterday lunchtime, despite claims by Greek Cypriot police that they have evidence incriminating at least five of them.
“There is no evidence that can justify court proceedings against the men,” Turkish Cypriot ‘attorney general’ Akin Sait told the Cyprus Mail shortly after the suspects were released yesterday.
Elmas Guzelyurtlu, his wife Zerrin and their 15-year-old daughter Eylul were found dead in their family car on the verge of the Nicosia-Larnaca road on the morning of January 15. Each of them had been killed by a single bullet to the head.
In the days following what has been dubbed the most horrific crime in Cyprus’ recent history, Turkish Cypriot authorities arrested a total of eight suspects, while police in the Republic collected evidence from the scene of the crime, and from the Guzelyurtlu home in Ayios Dhometios.
There then followed a bitter dispute between the two sides over where the suspects should be tried, with the authorities in the north refusing to hand the suspects over to the south and Greek Cypriot police rejecting pleas from the north for evidence the south said could incriminate at least five of the suspects.
Cyprus police, in the meantime, issued arrest warrants for five of the suspects, and alerted Interpol and Europol in order that the be arrested if they left the island.
Sait defended the north’s decision to release the eight yesterday saying: “At this stage we have decided not to apply for a further extension of custody, and, as their period of detention has come to an end, we are obliged to release them”.
He added, however, that the release of the suspects did not mean the investigation into the triple murder had ended.
“The investigation will continue, and whatever now emerges will be dealt with by the law office and the police [in the north],” he insisted.
Sait said the north’s refusal to hand over the suspects stemmed from “constitutional and legal requirements” that made it impossible to do so, and lay any blame for the deadlock between the two police forces on the Republic.
“Even with a crime as heinous as one in which three people died, the Greek Cypriots have refused to respond positively to our requests. Therefore, we have been left with no alternative but to release the suspects,” he said.
No restrictions were placed on the eight and, as far as the Turkish Cypriot authorities are concerned, they are free, if they wish, to leave the island, Sait added.
He also referred to statements by a Turkish Cypriot lawyer, who began representing four of the suspects but resigned in protest at the north’s handling of the case, that his clients wished to be tried in the south saying: “If this statement is still valid, they can, of their own will, go to the Greek Cypriot side and be arrested.”
Asked whether he was concerned that the north might be releasing Guzelyurtlu’s killers into the public domain, Sait said: “I am not saying I’m not concerned that they could be guilty, but we have no evidence.”
He added, however, that the door remained open to the Greek Cypriot police to provide the north with evidence of the men’s involvement in the murder.
Lawyer Erden Algun, representing four of the men released yesterday, said he was pleased with the decision and that his clients were now free to travel “anywhere in the world they please”.
Justice Minister Doros Theodorou disagreed, however, saying, “If they travel outside the occupied area, they will be arrested – even if they go to Turkey”.
Theodorou said he believed the north would pay a “high political price” for releasing the suspects, but added: “Maybe after the elections [in the north] they [the suspects] will be rearrested and sent south.”
He said he believed the decision to release the suspects was politically motivated in order to appeal to Turkish Cypriot separatist hardliners, and “immigrants”.
A UN spokesman expressed sadness yesterday that the two sides had failed to break the deadlock saying: “We regard the breakdown as regrettable”. He confirmed that the UN had been active in conveying information between the two sides during the investigation.
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by brother » Thu Feb 10, 2005 1:14 pm
DNA evidence ‘enough to nail Guzelyurtlu suspects’
JUSTIC Minister Doros Theodorou said yesterday police had DNA evidence that would be enough to convict five of the eight suspects released from custody in the north on Tuesday after having been arrested in connection with the murder of Turkish Cypriot businessman Elmas Guzelyurtlu and his wife and daughter.
The eight were released for lack of evidence, after the government refused to hand over evidence to the north and the Turkish Cypriot side refused to deliver the suspects to the south.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Theodorou said: “The police have crucial DNA evidence located at the scene of the crime linking five of the eight suspects who were being held in the north to the crime scene where the Guzelyurtlu family were murdered in Koshi.
“The evidence we have against them is so strong that I am positive they would be convicted should they be brought to trial in a Cypriot court.”
The Justice Minister added the police had recorded DNA evidence of some of the suspects in the north from previous arrests.
Theodorou added that the Turkish Cypriot authorities were using the case for political gain rather than to try and see justice be done for the Guzelyurtlu family.
“The people in charge in the north are using this case as a pawn to gain recognition for the pseudostate.”
JUSTIC Minister Doros Theodorou said yesterday police had DNA evidence that would be enough to convict five of the eight suspects released from custody in the north on Tuesday after having been arrested in connection with the murder of Turkish Cypriot businessman Elmas Guzelyurtlu and his wife and daughter.
The eight were released for lack of evidence, after the government refused to hand over evidence to the north and the Turkish Cypriot side refused to deliver the suspects to the south.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Theodorou said: “The police have crucial DNA evidence located at the scene of the crime linking five of the eight suspects who were being held in the north to the crime scene where the Guzelyurtlu family were murdered in Koshi.
“The evidence we have against them is so strong that I am positive they would be convicted should they be brought to trial in a Cypriot court.”
The Justice Minister added the police had recorded DNA evidence of some of the suspects in the north from previous arrests.
Theodorou added that the Turkish Cypriot authorities were using the case for political gain rather than to try and see justice be done for the Guzelyurtlu family.
“The people in charge in the north are using this case as a pawn to gain recognition for the pseudostate.”
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brother - Main Contributor
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by -mikkie2- » Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:38 pm
Interesting views turkcyp.
The reason why Papadopoulos is not talking to Talat is because he is not deemed to be the Turkish Cypriot negotiator. Currently, Denktas holds that post.
In April when you have your presidential elections (read vice-president if you wanted to be in the RoC) then that result will essentially give us the Turkish Cypriot negotiator. At that point Papadopoulos will be able to talk directly with Talat.
The reason why Papadopoulos is not talking to Talat is because he is not deemed to be the Turkish Cypriot negotiator. Currently, Denktas holds that post.
In April when you have your presidential elections (read vice-president if you wanted to be in the RoC) then that result will essentially give us the Turkish Cypriot negotiator. At that point Papadopoulos will be able to talk directly with Talat.
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by metecyp » Fri Feb 11, 2005 6:45 pm
mikkie2 wrote:The reason why Papadopoulos is not talking to Talat is because he is not deemed to be the Turkish Cypriot negotiator. Currently, Denktas holds that post.
I think this is total BS. These are just cheap tricks to avoid communication and this kind of things happen both in the north and the south.
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metecyp - Regular Contributor
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