12 April 2012

Delay In Trial Of Turkish Man Accused Of Murder

A Turkish waiter who is accused of killing two Northern Ireland women has appeared in front of a special court hearing as it is revealed that a trial could be further delayed.

The families of the two women stabbed to death in Turkey may now have to wait for up to six months before alleged murderer Recep Cetin stands trial in an adult court.

Marion Graham and Kathy Dinsmore, both in their 50s, were stabbed to death in Izmir, 75 miles from the Turkish tourist resort of Kusadasi, where they were staying.

A hearing took place on Wednesday to decide if the man accused of their murders is to be tried as an adult or a juvenile.

When Cetin was arrested there were no records of how old he was but last week bone tests proved he is 22-years-old - five years older than he claimed to be.

The judge has ordered that bone tests on Cetin are sent for further examination to the Department of Forensics in Istanbul.

Baris Kaska, the lawyer for the Graham and Dinsmore families, said the next hearing was scheduled for 7 June but he doubted the judge would make a decision then on whether the case should go to the adult court. He said he thought it could take at least six months before that happened.

(LB)