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'No evidence' in honour kill case Judge sums up in honour kill case
(about 4 hours later)
The lawyer for one of the men accused of murdering a 15-year-old girl in an "honour killing" has told a jury there is no evidence against him. Jurors were told by a judge to put aside sympathy when they consider the alleged "honour killing" of a 15-year-old by her father and uncles.
Cuma Goren, 42, is on trial charged with murder, alongside his brothers Ali and Mehmet, who is Tulay's father. Tulay Goren vanished from her north London home in January 1999 after her family allegedly disapproved of her relationship with boyfriend Halil Unal.
Tulay vanished from her north London home in January 1999 after her family allegedly disapproved of her relationship with boyfriend Halil Unal. Her father Mehmet Goren, 49, and his brothers Ali, 56, and Cuma, 42, all from east London, deny murdering her.
All three men deny murdering Tulay, whose body has never been found. They have also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to murder Mr Unal.
Had somebody looked at this case thoroughly and properly, this man should never ever have been charged, let alone brought to trial at the Central Criminal Court Michel Massih QC Tulay's mother Hanim Goren and sister Nuray Guler have given evidence for the prosecution during the Old Bailey trial.
In his closing speech Michel Massih QC, for Cuma, told an Old Bailey court: "There is not a single shred of evidence against Cuma Goren. Summing up the case to the jury, Mr Justice Bean said: "It should not be a question of who you feel sorry for, or like or dislike.
"Both sympathy and prejudice must be put aside."
It should not be a question of who you feel sorry for, or like or dislike Mr Justice Bean
He added: "Some of the witnesses, notably Hanim Goren and Nuray Guler, have been at times emotional.
"You may think that is understandable, but your duty is to consider the case clearly and dispassionately and in accordance with your oath at the start of the trial to reach true verdicts according to the evidence."
Earlier, in his closing speech, Michel Massih QC, for Cuma, said: "There is not a single shred of evidence against Cuma Goren.
"Had somebody looked at this case thoroughly and properly, this man should never ever have been charged, let alone brought to trial at the Central Criminal Court.""Had somebody looked at this case thoroughly and properly, this man should never ever have been charged, let alone brought to trial at the Central Criminal Court."
The court has previously heard that Tulay's relationship with Mr Unal would have been unacceptable to her family because he was a Sunni Muslim while the Goren family was from the Alevi branch of the faith.The court has previously heard that Tulay's relationship with Mr Unal would have been unacceptable to her family because he was a Sunni Muslim while the Goren family was from the Alevi branch of the faith.
Ali Goren, 56, Mehmet Goren, 49, from Woodford Green, and Cuma Goren, from Walthamstow, all in east London, also deny conspiring to murder Mr Unal between May 1998 and February 1999.
The trial continues.The trial continues.