Monday, August 22, 2011

Turkish victims' bodies released

22 August 2011 Last updated at 16:57 GMT Kathy Dinsmore and Marion Graham Kathy Dinsmore and Marion Graham were from County Down The bodies of the two Newry women murdered in Turkey last week have been released for repatriation.

Marion Graham and Kathy Dinsmore, both in their 50s, were stabbed to death in the city of Izmir on Thursday.

Ms Graham's daughter and former partner are now flying back to Northern Ireland.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has said Raymond McGuinness and his daughter Shannon will arrive back in Belfast later.

The boyfriend of Shannon has appeared in court over the murders.

BBC Northern Ireland's Chris Page said he has been told by police sources that Recep Cetin originally told police he had taken the women shopping and they had been abducted.

"Police thought that story didn't really add up," he said.

"They went back to the apartment (in Kusadasi, which the two women where sharing with Shannon Graham and Mr Cetin) to investigate further and there they found some blood-stained clothing in a bag lying on the ground.

"So they arrested Shannon's boyfriend then."

He said a trial, which would be before a judge, not a jury, could last as long as two years.

The women's families hope to fly their bodies home by the middle of this week.

The first full court hearing in relation to the murders is expected to take place on Monday.

Shannon's father, Raymond McGuinness and Ms Graham's son David arrived in Izmir on Saturday.

Prayers were said for the two women in churches in the Turkish city of Izmir and in Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Continue reading the main story image of Chris Page Chris Page BBC NI reporter

It has been widely reported that the suspect is 17, but there is now serious doubt at that.

He has told everyone, including his girlfriend, that that is his age, but police sources have told me he actually is older.

He worked in Kusadasi approaching tourists on the beach and offering to bring them to restaurants. He then earned commission. Several restaurant owners have described him to me as a troubled young man.

Given the suspect has confessed, it's likely the charges will come in the next few days. Anyone convicted of murder in Turkey gets a 36-year sentence per killing, so anyone who has carried out a double murder will spend more than 70 years in prison.

In Kusadasi, both tourists and business people are talking about the murders. Many people working in bars and restaurants knew the ladies and expressed their shock and sadness. I went to an English-language church service in Izmir where the victims and families were prayed for.

Mr McGuinness said the identification process had been completed and his 15-year-old daughter was now his "main concern".

A niece and nephew of Ms Dinsmore have arrived in Turkey to help in the repatriation process.

Detained

The suspect, Mr Cetin, also known as Alex, works at a restaurant in the popular tourist resort of Kusadasi. He was originally reported to be 17, but Turkish police confirmed there was now doubt over his age.

Murder suspect Recep C Doubt has now emerged about the age of the accused, Recep Cetin

It is alleged that he confessed to killing Ms Graham and Ms Dinsmore, after being refused permission to marry Shannon.

The suspect is alleged to have taken Ms Dinsmore and Ms Graham to a secluded wooded area and murdered them there.

The friends were on holiday Kusadasi, about 100km from Izmir.

Shannon was on a boat trip when the killings happened. She alerted police when she arrived home and could not get in touch with her mother.

Newry and Mourne District Council have opened books of condolence which are located at Newry Arts Centre, Newry Town Hall, Warrenpoint Town Hall, Kilkeel Leisure Centre and Crossmaglen Community Centre.


View the original article here

No comments:

Post a Comment