Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
A woman who killed her abusive husband after being raped and tortured and left tied to a chair ready for more abuse is now facing life in prison after prosecutors said the crime was not self-defence.
He told that when he came back he would kill her, and when the terrified woman managed to reach his rifle and threatened him, it went off when he tried to attack again.
But Turkish prosecutors say that the incident, which took place in the couple’s home in the district of Dosemealti of the southern Turkish city of Antalya on the night of 7th January was not self-defence.
Melek Ipek, 31, shot and killed her husband Ramazan Ipek, 36, after he beat and raped her while threatening to kill her and their two children, 9 and 7, according to local media.
Melek was repeatedly tortured by her husband during the course of their 12-year marriage and was threatened with death if she dared report him to the police, so she never did.
During her testimony, Melek said her abusive husband told her: “A protection order will not save you, I will testify against you and even if they lock me up, I will kill you and the children when I am released. When I have killed you, I will mince your bodies and feed you to the dogs so that no one even knows you are dead.”
On the night of the incident, Ramazan reportedly beat her so bad that she said she was truly afraid for her and her children’s life.
He then handcuffed her in a fetal position, raped her, and cut her several times with a machete, before heading out and threatening once again to kill her when he came back, according to local media.
Once she was left alone, Melek managed to get hold of his rifle and pointed it at her husband when he appeared at the door.
Refusing to listen to Melek, who told him to stay back, he moved towards her which is when she fired the rifle.
After the incident, Melek was placed in custody as the investigation unfolded.
She said: “I did not want him to die, despite everything, but I had no choice. If he didn’t die then my two daughters and I would have been killed.”
The indictment prepared by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the killing of Ramazan Ipek was accepted by the Antalya 3rd High Criminal Court, as reported by news site DHA on 2nd January.
In the indictment bearing the signature of Public Prosecutor Haki Celiker, life imprisonment was being sought for the deliberate murder of the defendant’s husband.
The prosecutor stated that the incident was not self-defence.
Meanwhile, a petition has also been organised on Change.org (https://bit.ly/2LBWMV5) with many joining online campaigns to free the defendant so she can continue to care for her traumatised daughters.
Currently, 42,000 have signed the petition, which is only 8,000 short of the 50,000 signatures goal.
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