German family poisoned in Istanbul – 18 years in prison for pest controller

Istanbul – A family of four from Hamburg traveled to Istanbul in November, it was supposed to be a nice vacation. But shortly after their arrival, the parents and their two small children became seriously ill. The reason: poisoning by a harmful insecticide in the hotel. The mother (27) and the children (3, 5) died. Days later, so did the father (38). Now a court in Istanbul has imposed long prison sentences.

The operator of the hotel was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months Had convicted – for “conscious negligent homicide”. The owner of the pest control company got 18 years, as did his son. An employee who carried out the chemical use must be behind bars for 12 years and 2 months. Two accused hotel receptionists were acquitted.

Family happy with the verdict

Yilmaz Böcek, the victims’ grandfathersat in the courtroom during the verdict. He told BILD: “There was no reaction on their faces after the verdict was announced.” Böcek is surprised by the verdict: “I didn’t think they would get so many years in prison.” He is satisfied with the verdict. The brother of the deceased father also welcomed the verdicts and finds them “fair”.

Lawyer Yasar Balci sees the high sentence as positive, but announced that he would appeal. He calls for punishment for “intentional homicide.”

First suspected food poisoning

Initially there was suspicion of food poisoning. The family was released after a stay in the hospital. Shortly afterwards the mother and two children died. After several days in the intensive care unit, the father also died. A report was later provided Poisoning by aluminum phosphide fest.

Defendants demanded acquittals

In the courtroom, all of the defendants denied guilt and demanded acquittals. The hotel owner expressed doubts about the cause of death. He doesn’t think the family will be affected by the chemical treatment deaths came and again cited possible food poisoning.

It was clearly an emotionally stressful day for the relatives of the deceased who traveled to the court case. The grandmother addressed the defendants in the courtroom with the words: “My heart bleeds every day, I buried my daughter and died myself.” She demanded that the judge punish the perpetrators “to wipe away a mother’s tears.”

Another possible victim in the courtroom

In the courtroom, a man also spoke out from the audience whose child had presumably also died after the use of chemicals by the same company. After he shouted at the defendants that they knew everything, the judge expelled him from the courtroom. The family’s lawyer had initially demanded that a high sentence in this case should also force those responsible in the state to take serious steps and carry out stronger controls on such companies.