Anamur, Turkey: 12‑Year‑Old Restaurant Worker’s Death Leads to Murder Trial

On 28 July, 12‑year‑old Eyüp Can Güner fell from a height inside a restaurant in Saray neighbourhood of Anamur, Mersin, after being chased by 25‑year‑old employee Necmettin Ulaş. Witnesses found the boy unconscious and called emergency services; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ulaş was arrested and charged with “negligent intentional homicide,” facing up to 25 years in prison. During the first hearing he told the court, “My aim was to play with him… I thought it was normal because the other person was a child.” The defence argued there was no intent to harm. The victim’s lawyer disputed the defence’s claims, noting unexplained tears in the boy’s clothing and wounds that appeared consistent with a knife‑like injury, and demanded further forensic investigation.

The case proceeded to a second hearing at the Anamur Heavy Penal Court, where Ulaş remained in custody and the trial was adjourned to allow additional testimony and expert analysis.