22/12/2025 | Writer: Oğulcan Özgenç
A verdict has been delivered in the case of trans woman Sudenaz U., who was killed in Diyarbakır in 2024 on the day of the “Great Family Gathering.” The court did not apply any reductions for unjust provocation or good conduct and sentenced the perpetrators to aggravated life imprisonment.
On 14 September 2024, the day the “Great Family Gathering” was held, trans woman Sudenaz U. was killed by two men, A.A. and İ.U., in the Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır. The court has announced its verdict in the case concerning the attack in which Sudenaz U. was killed and her friend G. was injured.
At the hearing held at the Diyarbakır 7th High Criminal Court, A.A. and İ.U., who killed Sudenaz, were each sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for intentional killing. In addition, each defendant was sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment for attempted robbery with a weapon, in a residence, and by more than one person.
“The murder was planned and committed with intent to kill”
During the hearing, the lawyers for the case stated that the audio recording included in the case file, along with witness and complainant statements, demonstrated that the defendants committed the murder in a planned manner and with intent to kill. The lawyers emphasized that the defendants deliberately raided the home of Sudenaz U. and her friend G., and requested that the defendants be sentenced at the upper limit.
The lawyers also noted that the statements heard in the audio recording, “I killed a man for you, I killed a man for you”, clearly showed that the defendants were willing to kill and that they knowingly committed the murder.
Defendants claimed they were “victims,” requested acquittal
In their defense statements, defendants A.A. and İ.U. denied committing the murder and requested acquittal. In his final statement, A.A. said, “I took İ.U. with me, but not with the intention to kill. I did not kill anyone.” Defendant İ.U., for his part, described himself as a “victim” and asked to be acquitted.
Court issues aggravated life sentences: No sentence reductions applied
At the conclusion of the hearing, the court sentenced each defendant to aggravated life imprisonment for intentional killing against a woman and for killing committed in a fit of outrage arising from the inability to commit another crime. The court also ruled that the defendants committed attempted robbery against Sudenaz U. and G. at night, with a weapon, in a residence, and by more than one person, and sentenced each defendant to an additional 9 years’ imprisonment. No reductions were applied for provocation or good conduct.
Tags: human rights, women, life, trans, lgbti
