Pregnant Young Mum Of Two Who Shot Abusive Husband Dead With Shotgun Acquitted Of Murder After Court Accepts Self Defence

A pregnant young mum-of-two who killed her abusive husband with a shotgun has been acquitted of murder after the court accepted her self-defence plea.

Rumeysa Aydin, 28, was on trial for the murder of her husband, 30-year-old Murat Aydin, whom she shot dead with a shotgun.

The incident took place in the neighbourhood of Ziyaretli in the district of Karesi in the north-western Turkish province of Balikesir on 13th August last year (2021).

Rumeysa Aydin, who killed her husband Murat Aydin in self-defence in Balikesir, Turkey, on 13th August 2021, was pictured with her children. (Newsflash)

Rumeysa told the court in the provincial capital, Balikesir: “I was trying to protect myself and my children.”

The young mother said that her husband had constantly threatened her with violence and sexual harassment and had even threatened to shoot her dead.

Failing to hold back tears, she told the court: “Everyone calls me a murderer. But I am not a murderer. I tried to protect myself and my children.”

The court decided that the defendant’s actions amounted to ‘legitimate defence’ and acquitted her during the hearing on Saturday, 5th March.

Rumeysa Aydin, (left) killed her husband Murat Aydin, (right) in self-defence in Balikesir, Turkey, on 13th August 2021. (Newsflash)

The young woman’s children, who appear to be a girl and a boy, are reportedly still receiving counselling following the tragic event.

Aysegul Kucukafacan, who heads the ‘Sil Bastan’ Association for Combatting Violence Against Women and Child Abuse and who has followed the case since the investigation phase, said that the violence against Rumeysa began shortly after her marriage.

This violence was reportedly often witnessed by the couple’s children.

Kucukafacan said that Rumeysa was forcibly kept at home for three days before the fatal incident happened, and she claimed that Rumeysa’s husband was experiencing hallucinations from taking drugs.

Rumeysa Aydin, who killed her husband Murat Aydin in self-defence in Balikesir, Turkey, on 13th August 2021, was reunited with her children after her acquittal. (Newsflash)

She also said that Rumeysa shot her husband at a close distance, indicating that he represented a threat at the time.

Rumeysa was arrested following the shooting and was taken into custody, where she found out she was pregnant with twins, one of whom she later lost.

The other baby is still alive and is reportedly due soon.