Reasoned decision announced in Atlas Çağlayan murder case

The case in which the defendant E.Ç. (14) was tried for the stabbing death of 17-year-old Atlas Çağlayan during a fight in Güngören, was decided on September 8, 2026.

At the hearing held by the Bakırköy 2nd Juvenile High Criminal Court, the committee ruled that E.Ç. be sentenced to a total of 18 years, 10 months and 15 days in prison for the crimes of 'intentional murder against a child', 'violating the law no. 6136' and 'chain threat with a gun' and that he remain in detention.

EMPHASIS ON 'IMPROVED DETECTING AND GUIDING ABILITY'

After the trial, the reasoned decision written by the court emerged. In the decision, it was stated that there was no hostility between the parties, that E.Ç. was carrying a knife, which is prohibited to carry or possess, similar to a switchblade, and that he committed the crime of opposing the Law No. 6136. It was emphasized that there was no room for a discretionary discount on the defendant on the grounds that he had a formal attitude and behavior aimed at influencing the court.

In the reasoned decision, it was emphasized that E.Ç. was in the 12-15 age group at the time of the crime, and that his ability to perceive the legal meaning and consequences of the act and direct his behavior in terms of the crimes charged against him by the Forensic Medicine Institute reports was sufficiently developed. It was emphasized that E.Ç. was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of "intentional murder against a child", that he was sentenced to 14 years and 9 months in prison, considering that his age at the time of the crime was 14 years and 9 months, and that he was closer to 15, and that, considering E.Ç.'s social relations and the fact that he fled the scene after his action, there was no need for discretionary reduction on the grounds that his statement of regret was a formal attitude and behavior aimed at influencing the court.

REASON FOR NOT APPLYING 'DISCRETIONARY DISCOUNT'

E.Ç., complainants D.Ç., R.O., T.U.A. and Y.O.O. for the crime of 'threat with a weapon', taking into account the seriousness of his fault based on intent, the place where the incident occurred and the way it occurred, the intensity of the danger, and being sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment. E.Ç. was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months of imprisonment by increasing the sentence considering the fact that E.Ç. It was stated that he was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months imprisonment, reduced by half, and that it was decided that there was no need for a discretionary reduction to be applied to ASÇ, as it was understood that his statement of regret for the action was a formal attitude and behavior aimed at influencing the court, taking into account his social relations and the fact that he fled the scene after his action.

In the reasoned decision, it was stated that the defendant E.Ç. was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment for the crime of 'violating the firearms and knives law', which is another crime accused of him, that he carried the prohibited knife in question, used it in the commission of the crime, and considering the way the incident occurred, this sentence was reduced by half due to E.Ç.'s young age, reduced to 4 months, 15 days and a judicial fine. In the reasoned decision, it was also explained that the prison sentence given to E.Ç. was converted into a judicial fine of 18 thousand 500 liras, on the grounds that it was less than 1 year, and that the penalty was divided into 5 installments. Considering E.Ç.'s social relations and the fact that he ran away and went into hiding with other S.S.Ç. after his action, it was stated that his statement that he regretted the action was a formal attitude and behavior aimed at influencing the court and was aimed at reducing the sentence.