Man jailed for 5.5 years for stabbing relatives

A MAN has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison for stabbing his brother and sister-in-law.

Bekir Fakı stabbed his brother Cuma Fakı once under the right shoulder, twice in the back near his right kidney and once in his right hand; and his sisterin-law Özgün Fakı once under her lower left breast, with a 26cm-long knife with a 15cm blade, because his brother “got angry” with his daughter a year ago in Haspolat.

The defendant, who had been charged with “grievous bodily harm”, “bodily harm”, “aggravated assault and battery” and “illegal possession of a knife”, pleaded guilty to all charges.

Senior Judge Vedia Berkut Barkın, handing down the verdict at Lefkoşa Assize Court on behalf of a panel of judges, said that “grievous bodily harm” is one of the “most serious and prevalent crimes” and that it carries a maximum life sentence.

The judge pointed out that such crimes are “unsettling to both the complainants and society”.

She noted that the judges assessed the fact that Bekir Fakı stabbed his brother, who was also his neighbour, multiple times against him.

“It is impossible for our court to treat these types of crimes with leniency,” Judge Barkın said, adding that punishments should act as an “example and deterrent” to others.