"Yield & Release": During Traffic Dispute, Husband "Accidentally" Shot His Wife Dead (!), in Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 6 November 2025)

 

                        Oh! Just yield and keep going! 

The verdict has been announced in the trial of Cevdet Dündar, who 

allegedly accidentally killed his wife (!), Kızhanım Dündar, during a 

traffic dispute, and Halit Kürk and his son, Ali Kürk, who were 

involved in the fight with Dündar. 

On September 3, 2023, in the Yenimahalle district of Ankara, Cevdet 

Dündar argued with Halit Kürk and his son, Ali Kürk, for failing to 

yield.  After stopping their vehicles, the argument continued, and a 

fight broke out between the two parties. Cevdet Dündar retrieved his 

licensed pistol from his vehicle and fired into the air, while his wife, 

Kızhanım Dündar, attempted to stop him.

During this incident, one bullet struck Halit Kürk in the arm, and 

the other in the chest of Kızhanım Dündar. Halit Kürk suffered minor 

injuries when the bullet grazed his arm, but Kızhanım hanım died. 

After the incident, Cevdet Dündar and Halit Kürk, who were involved 

in the fight, were detained by the court, and Ali Kürk was released.

A lawsuit seeking an aggravated life sentence was filed against 

Cevdet Dündar for "premeditated murder of a descendant," and 

separate life sentences were filed against Ali Kürk and Halit Kürk for 

"premeditated murder."

Defendants Halit Kürk and Ali Kürk were absent from the hearing held 

at the Ankara 33rd High Criminal Court, while Dündar and the lawyers 

for both sides were present.  The presiding judge reminded Dündar that 

the opinion on the merits had been released at the previous hearing and 

promised him the floor to make his final defense.

      Perhaps it was an "assisted suicide". Hmmmmmm.

Dündar, stating that he had reiterated his written and oral statements, 

requested his acquittal.  Dündar's lawyer stated that the grounds for the 

alleged crime had not been met and that self-defense (!) should apply 

to his client, and made the following statement:

"My client was forced out of the car by the people he was arguing with. 

He pulled out his gun to intimidate the other party - his intention from 

the outset was never to fire the weapon. My client, in his momentary 

state of grief after his wife's death, could have shot the other defendants, 

but he didn't. Defendant Halit Kürk's unjust and careless actions from 

the outset of the incident caused all of this. He also initiated the argument. 

I request my client's acquittal."

The other defendants' lawyers argued that their clients had committed no 

crime, considering the evidence in the case file, and requested acquittal. 

Following the testimonies, the court announced its decision and ruled 

that there was no need to impose a penalty on Cevdet Dündar, on the 

grounds that the incident lacked premeditation and was an accident.

The court sentenced Halit Kürk, the defendant not in custody, to 2 years 

and 6 months in prison for the crime of "causing death by negligence" (!)

and acquitted Ali Kürk, the defendant not in custody, on the grounds 

that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the crime was committed

by him. 

By the way, the resemblance is uncanny...