Life in prison for man who stabbed Turkish journalist over snowball fight
ISTANBUL
The shopkeeper who stabbed journalist Nuh Köklü to death after a snowball reportedly hit his shop’s window during a snowball fight involving the journalist and his friends has been given an indictment of life in prison as the investigation into the murder, which involved two suspects and 13 complainants, has been completed.The indictment prepared by the Anatolia Chief Public Prosecution following the investigation gave a life sentence to Serkan Azizoğlu for intentionally murdering Köklü, 46, late Feb. 17.
The sentence also included a total of at least three years and nine months in prison for 13 complainants and another reported to have helped the perpetrator murder Köklü over the charges of “attempting to intentionally injure” and “helping intentionally murder,” respectively.
If the court approves the indictment, the trial of all fifteen will start in the following days.
The indictment prepared by the Anatolia Chief Public Prosecution says Köklü and his close friends were heading to one of his friend’s place shortly after they met by the bull statue in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district at 9:00 p.m. late Feb. 17.
They whimsically started a snowball fight for fun and one of the snowballs reportedly hit the window of Azizoğlu’s spice shop located in Karakolhane street in Kadıköy, it said. In retaliation, Azizoğlu intentionally stabbed and killed Köklü, according to the indictment.
