Greetings in the name of Jesus

The latest hearing in the trial of the five men accused of murdering three Christians in Malatya was held on Monday (12^th). Recall that Necati Aydin (married to Semse with two small children), Ugur Yuksel (single) and Tilmann Geske (German national, married to Suzanne with three children aged 13, 11 and 8) were killed at a Christian publishing house in Malaya, Eastern Turkey, on 18^th April 2007. Five men aged 19 and 20 were arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with murder.

Four defendants testified during previous hearings. Each stated that they understood the objective to be to extract information about the Christians’ activities. Concerning the actual murders, each stated that either they had not seen what happened or that the group’s leader was solely responsible. At Monday’s hearing the fifth defendant, i.e. the group’s leader, also denied responsibility for the actual murders. He accused one of his fellow defendants. Christian news agency Compass Direct reports that he stated that the intention was to frighten the Christians in order to extract information about their activities to be given to the press. They had taken knives for their own protection and the guns they had were for effect since they were only capable of firing blanks.

The next hearing was set for 9^th June. The judge stated that all five defendants would be present simultaneously to be cross-examined together to allow the contradictions amongst their individual accounts to be explored.

Suzanne attended the hearing. However, Semse stayed away in protest at the handling of the case by the panel of three judges. The two widows and their legal team are frustrated that the judges are blocking their attempts to gather and submit evidence against the five defendants and those alleged to have been behind them. Recall that shortly after the murders seven other men were arrested on suspicion of having aided or conspired with the perpetrators. Several were charged and released on bail. They have not yet been tried.

The hearing was attended by many Turkish and expatriate journalists.

Turkish Christians request our continued prayers to our perfect loving heavenly Father that:

a.       Semse and Suzanne will know the presence of Jesus throughout the trial process

b.      Justice will be done concerning the perpetrators

c.       Those charged with having aided or conspiring with the perpetrators will be brought to trial

d.      Semse and Suzanne legal team will know the Spirit’s guiding and equipping

e.       He will use the media attention will be used to promote justice and other purposes

f.        The judges, other officials, lawyers and journalists involved will hear the gospel of Jesus and be drawn to the Father’s love.