One sentenced to 25 years, six released over murder of Serbian fan in Istanbul

A court on Oct. 19 handed a 25-year jail term to one man over the killing of a Serbian basketball fan in Istanbul in 2014, while six other defendants were released.

The Bak?rköy 15th High Criminal Court initially gave Kadri Akta? a life sentence for the "voluntary manslaughter" of 25-year-old Red Star fan Marko Ivkovic, but later reduced the sentence to 25 years in jail for "good conduct" during the trial. Meanwhile, six defendants pending trial - identified as Yusuf Velio?lu, Volkan Sar?, Serhan Yücel Aydo?mu?, Gökhan Y?ld?z, Ça?atay H?z and Atakan Bodan - were all released.

Ivkovic's sister, Bojana Jankelic, told reporters after the hearing that she did not find the 25-year sentence satisfactory, vowing that she would never come back to Turkey again.

Ivkovic's lawyer, Rufayi Ta?tan, also expressed his disappointment over the ruling, saying the murder marked a "serious blow to Turkey's international image." Ta?tan also vowed to appeal the decision.

Ivkovic was stabbed to death during clashes with Galatasaray supporters before the Turkish Airlines Euroleague match on Nov. 21, 2014 between Galatasaray Live Hospital and Serbian Red Star basketball teams. The incident caused uproar in Serbia and calls for revenge from some fan groups, while also creating concerns about future matches between Turkish and Serbian teams.  

On July 6, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor ?brahim Baytekin demanded that Akta? be given 12 to 18 years in prison on charges of "murder upon baseless incitement," while he demanded the acquittal of six other suspects.

The indictment prepared by the Bak?rköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in which the Serbian Consulate General in Istanbul is involved as a plaintiff, stated that a group including...