Driver sentenced to life imprisonment in British tourist death

A Turkish court has sentenced Şenay Koparal to aggravated life imprisonment for the death of British tourist Lisa Jane Di Palma, 61, in Fethiye, Muğla.

The incident occurred on August 6, 2025, on Cahit Beğenç Boulevard. Koparal, who was driving with a blood alcohol level of 2.14 promille, struck Di Palma while she was using a pedestrian crossing with her husband. Following the collision, Koparal allegedly attempted to flee the scene by driving over the victim. Witnesses and the victim's husband, Keith Anthony Di Palma, intervened to stop the vehicle, but the driver reportedly attempted to maneuver the car further.

Di Palma succumbed to her injuries in the hospital approximately one week after the accident. During the trial at the Fethiye 2nd High Criminal Court, Koparal expressed regret and claimed the actions were unintentional. However, the court convicted her of “intentional murder of a woman for the purpose of concealing a crime or concealing evidence of another crime or to avoid being caught.”