The latest hearing in the trial of the five men accused of murdering three Christians in Malatya was held on Monday (9^th June). It failed to resolve the contraditions amongst the testimonies of the five perpetrators arrested at the scene. Defence lawyers continue to complain of being denied access to information in violation of normal procedures.

Greetings in the name of Jesus, head of the Church

The latest hearing in the trial of the five men accused of murdering three Christians in Malatya was held on Monday (i.e. 9^th June). 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.

In Monday’s hearing all five appeared together for the first time. However, cross questioning failed to explain the contradictions amongst their individual testimonies as each of the five accused one or more of their fellow defendants of committing the actual bodily harm and murder of the three Christians.

Lawyers representing the two widows continue to complain that they are being denied access to information contrary to normal procedures. One example is that information taken from the perpetrators’ computers has not been passed to them, despite information from the victims’ computers been made available to the perpetrators’ defence lawyers.

In April 2007 seven other men of a similar age were questioned concerning assisting the five perpetrators. Two were charged and appeared in court during Monday’s hearing. However there remains widespread concern amongst Turkish Christians that the authorities have failed to fully or effectively investigate who was behind the five men arrested at the scene. Recently a Turkish newspaper published detailed allegations of officials involved in improper monitoring of Christian activities. An editorial stated that the allegations looked plausible.

The next hearing was scheduled for Friday 4^th July. 12 witnesses have been summoned to appear, including those involved in providing information used in the recent newspaper article.

Semse continues to boycott the hearings. Christian news agency Compass Direct quote her as saying, “I haven’t gone to the last two hearings because the court is not impartial. I see that justice is not being done, and I don’t want to listen to the killers’ arranged lies. Death is easier to stomach than lies.” Suzanne and her children continue to live in Malatya.

Turkish Christians request our continued prayers asking that:

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

b.      Justice will be done concerning the perpetrators

c.       A full investigation will be undertaken into those behind the young perpetrators

d.      The results of such an investigation will be acted upon in a just manner

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

f.        God will use Turkish media attention to promote justice and other purposes

g.       The judges, other officials, lawyers and journalists involved will hear the gospel of Jesus, feel the Spirit’s conviction of sin and be drawn to the Father’s love, forgiveness and acceptance