Jury out in 'honour killing' case

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Jurors in the case of three men accused of the so-called "honour killing" of a member of their own family have retired to consider their verdict.

Tulay Goren 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.

They have also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to murder Mr Unal.

Tulay's mother Hanim Goren and sister Nuray Guler have given evidence for the prosecution during the Old Bailey trial.

'Emotional evidence'

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."

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."

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.