Indictment seeks three life sentences for each coup soldier who raided Hürriyet

Istanbul's Chief Prosecutor's Office has demanded three aggravated life sentences for each of the 19 soldiers who raided daily Hürriyet, the Hürriyet Daily News, CNN Türk and Kanal D at the Doğan Media Center in Istanbul's Bağcılar district on the night of the failed coup on July 15, 2016.

According to the indictment, the coup soldiers entered the parking lot of the Doğan Media Center at 3 a.m. on July 16. Soon, they split into two groups, opened fire into the air and shouted, "The General Staff has seized the power of the state." 

The putschists threatened personnel at the Doğan Media Center with guns and demanded that they open the doors, the indictment stated.

A captain also granted permission to another soldier under his command to shoot anyone who moved.

Cpt. Süleyman Ahmet Kaya, who directed the soldiers on the night, became angry that the entrance to the building was covered with shutters and bullet-proof windows, the indictment said.

"If you don't open the door, I will kill you," said Kaya before opening fire into the air again, according to the indictment.   

Murat Yetkin, the editor-in-chief of the Hürriyet Daily News, requested that Kaya lower his gun, according to the indictment.

Yetkin told Kaya that they were unarmed journalists, while also asking why they had come to the Doğan building. Kaya reportedly responded, saying a coup had occurred and that they had seized power.

Meanwhile, Ali Güven, a news coordinator for CNN Türk, told the soldiers that they were committing a crime against the constitution. Cpt. Erdal Şeker, who raided the CNN Türk building, responded, telling the soldiers under his command that they should not heed Güven's complaints, according to the indictment. 
...