Eyes on next legal processes after life sentences in child murder case

In the Narin Güran murder case, all eyes are now on the forthcoming legal proceedings, as higher courts prepare to review appeals from three key suspects who have been sentenced to life in connection with her mysterious death.

After a tense day-long hearing, a Diyarbakır court sentenced Güran's mother, elder brother and uncle to aggravated life imprisonment on Dec. 28 for jointly perpetrating the murder of the 8-year-old girl in the southeastern province.

Neighbor Nevzat Bahtiyar, who confessed to disposing of the body in a stream bed, was acquitted of murder but received a sentence of four years and six months for tampering with evidence.

While the Diyarbakır Bar Association welcomed the severe sentences handed to the family members, it deemed Bahtiyar's penalty insufficient and intends to appeal.

The body of Güran, who had been missing for 19 days, was found in September in a bag in a river around 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the village where she lived with her family.

Narin disappeared on Aug. 21, sparking a huge search effort in Türkiye, with a number of well-known figures joining a "Find Narin" social media campaign.

Prosecutors said in the indictment that the murder was likely committed by those close to Narin. They also accused Narin's uncle, who is the highest local administrator in the village, of misleading authorities during the initial manhunt.

The case, which has gripped the nation since late August and emerged as one of the year's most significant developments, concluded after just two hearings, with no confessions from the defendants.

Turkish courts typically release their reasoned judgments within two weeks of a verdict,...