A man who battered his mother’s carer to death with a hammer in front of her eight-year-old son has been seized by police in Turkey.

Victim Nursel Bircan, 39, was so badly disfigured she could only be identified with a DNA test, reported local media.

Accused Kamil Hakan Karabulut, 56, attacked the carer after a furious row at the family home in Istanbul, Turkey, on 16th October.

Bircan had been caring for Karabulut’s 84-year-old mother who had been diagnosed with dementia.

But following the angry bust-up, Karabulut took a hammer and hit the carer up to 10 times before she fell unconscious to the ground.

Neighbours who heard the victim screaming immediately alerted the police and emergency crews.

But paramedics could only pronounce Bircan dead.

Her remains were handed to her family after which she was buried in the family cemetery.

The victim’s brother Yuksel Bircan told local media that his sister’s body was unrecognisable when he saw her.

He said: “They called us on Sunday and said ‘Your sister was involved in the incident and you need to come here.’

“We learned that the incident directly involved murder of a woman.

“They told us that the woman’s son and my sister had an argument at home.

“He had a hammer with him. She passed out when he first hit her head. He hit her head with a hammer five or ten times.

“Her face was not completely recognisable.”

He added: “The police came fifteen minutes after the incident. My nephew told me, ‘After [the incident] the man changed, the police came’.”

Karabulut who was immediately arrested and has been in custody ever since has reportedly admitted to committing the murder.

Yuksel said: “This needs to be prevented. Femicides must be prevented. Penalties must be increased if necessary, whatever is necessary must be done.”

The investigation continues.