US tourist Sierra’s confessed murderer has competence to stand trial, report says

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Sierra's body was found Feb. 2 along Istanbul’s city walls near Sarayburnu, beneath Topkapı Palace. Hürriyet photo

The confessed murderer of Sarai Sierra, an American mother found dead in Istanbul early last year, has no mental issues and is competence to stand trial, according to an expert report.

Istanbul 5th High Criminal Court has ordered a detailed report regarding the condition of mental health of Z.T., who admitted to killing 31-year-old tourist Sierra on Jan. 21, 2013.

The report was filed by the Bakırköy Mazhar Osman Mental Health Hospital and sent to the court, reading no mental problems while committing the crimes of “major sexual assault, intentional homicide, and theft,” that could affect the suspect’s competence to stand trial were found.

The report also said the suspect was aware of the results of his actions when the crimes were committed.

Sierra, who left the United States for the first time in her life on Jan. 7 to take pictures in Istanbul, went missing in the city on Jan. 21. Her dead body was found Feb. 2 along Istanbul’s city walls near Sarayburnu, beneath Topkapı Palace.

The suspect admitted to killing Sierra, but said he did not rape her beforehand, but rather simply attempted to kiss her. Z.T. claimed he was high at the time and that he killed the woman with a rock following a physical struggle.