Turkey Seeks Life Sentence for Laundry Worker Over Workplace Stabbing
Turkish prosecutors in Kocaeli are seeking a life sentence for a laundry worker accused of fatally stabbing a colleague during a violent workplace brawl.
Turkish prosecutors in Kocaeli province are seeking a life sentence for 29-year-old laundry worker Mehdi B., who is accused of the intentional killing of his colleague Abdulrauf Gorgani during a violent brawl at their workplace in the Kartepe district.
In addition to the life sentence requested for the primary defendant, the prosecution is asking for 10 to 18 years in prison for the attempted killing of another worker who was seriously wounded, alongside charges under Turkey's legislation regulating firearms and knives.
The incident took place last December at a commercial laundry facility after a prolonged dispute between employees escalated into a physical altercation.
As part of the legal proceedings, the prosecution has also requested a prison sentence ranging from 15 to 18 years for Rauf P., identified in some reports as a minor, over his involvement in the killing, as well as 6.5 to 12 years for aiding the attempted killing. Meanwhile, prosecutors asked the court to acquit two other suspects of homicide and attempted killing charges.
During court hearings, testimonies revealed that the confrontation began in the staff room before spilling into the hallway. According to accounts, an employee returning from vacation brought personal belongings that allegedly contained suspected narcotics, triggering a heated argument that turned violent.
Mehdi B. testified in court that he acted in self-defense after being attacked from behind. "I swung the knife once so he would not attack me. I had no intention of harming him, but the knife struck him directly in the neck," he said.
A witness involved in the case testified that he later heard Mehdi B. say, "When I swung the knife at him, it hit his carotid artery. I do not know if he is alive or dead."
The court adjourned the hearing to allow defense teams time to respond to the prosecution's arguments. The legal proceedings are expected to resume shortly ahead of a final verdict.
