DINK TRIAL TO BE HELD ON JULY 2

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000387 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV TU SUBJECT: DINK TRIAL TO BE HELD ON JULY 2 REF: A. ISTANBUL 42 ¶B. ISTANBUL 38 ¶1. Istanbul's Heavy Penal Court No. 14 will hear the case against the 18 suspects in the Hrant Dink assassination on July 2. The hearing will be closed to observers because Ogun Samast, the primary suspect, is a minor. The court has invited Orhan Pamuk, who was threatened by one of the suspects, to testify as a witness. ¶2. The indictment asked for life sentences without parole for Erhan Tuncel and Yasin Hayal for soliciting Dink's murder. The prosecutor also recommended from 22.5 to 48 years of imprisonment for Erhan Tuncel for "managing an armed terror organization" and "producing and using explosives." For Yasin Hayal, another 18 to 30 years in prison is sought for "managing an armed terror organization, threatening Orhan Pamuk and carrying an unlicensed fire-arm." The indictment stipulates that the gunman, Ogun Samast, is below 18 and should be imprisoned for between 18 and 24 years the maximum sentence available for a minor. It also calls for various prison terms for the remaining 15 suspects ranging from 7.5 to 35 years. Two Grand Union Party (BBP) members, Yasar Cihan and Halis Egemen, could be sentenced to between 7.5 and 15 years if convicted of "aiding and abetting a terrorist organization." ¶3. Comment: The prosecutor's decision to charge the defendants in this case under terrorist-related statutes is not without controversy. The initial submission was rejected by the judge, but a second application was sustained. The court will now rule on the charges as presented in the indictment. Although it appears we will be unable to observe the trial itself, we will continue to monitor this case. JONES