Mersin court orders new indictment in autism abuse case

A court in Mersin, Turkey, has ordered the preparation of a new indictment in the case of a teacher, S. P. C., accused of abusing a 5-year-old child with atypical autism, Kuzey Yılmaz.

During the hearing at the Mersin 25th Criminal Court of First Instance, an expert report based on security camera footage was presented. The report concluded that the defendant applied violence to the child on multiple different dates. In response to these findings, the judge decided to file a criminal complaint to allow for a new indictment that may reflect a change in the legal classification of the crime.

The defendant, S. P. C., denied the allegations of violence, claiming that physical contact was intended only for eye contact and guidance, and that their good intentions were misunderstood. However, the child's parents, Bahattin and Sermin Yılmaz, requested the harshest possible punishment, stating that the violence was not an isolated incident and that the child has not responded to treatments.

The court ruled that the defendant will remain in custody while the investigation is updated to address the new findings.