Zonguldak murder suspect appears in court for fatal stabbing

The defendant in the murder of 19-year-old Celal Can Er appeared before the Zonguldak 2nd High Criminal Court. The incident occurred on August 15 in the Bahçelievler neighborhood of Zonguldak, following a dispute allegedly stemming from a social media follow request sent to an ex-girlfriend.

During the hearing, the defendant, Yunus Emre Çoşkun, claimed that the social media issue had been resolved long ago and that he and the victim had maintained a friendly relationship. Çoşkun testified that during a confrontation, he was surrounded by the victim and others. He stated that after receiving multiple punches, he pulled out a 26-centimeter bread knife and swung it without a specific target in response to being surrounded.

The victim's mother, Mehtap Çakmak, addressed the court, requesting a severe sentence and arguing that the nature of the wound suggested an intent to kill. While the prosecution is seeking a life sentence for intentional murder, the defense attorney argued that the defendant's actions fell within the limits of self-defense due to being surrounded by a group. The court decided to continue the defendant's detention.