Garipoğlu surrenders after 197 days on the run

Cem Garipoğlu, accused of killing his girlfriend Karabulut in a brutal murder by cutting her head off with a handsaw 197 days ago was taken to the juvenile department in the city's Üsküdar district as he is still legally a minor. According to initial information from police sources, Garipoğlu, speaking about the murder, said during his interrogation at the Üsküdar juvenile department: “It happened just like that. I wish I had died instead,” apparently expressing regret. In response to the question why he had sawed the victim's head off, he said he had to because he was unable to fit the entire body in one suitcase. Garipoğlu is being kept under the supervision of psychologists at the police station, sources said. His mental state does not appear to be good, the police said.

Timeline of events in the Münevver murder March 3: A decapitated body is found in a trash container in the Etiler district. On the same night, the victim is identified as 18-year-old Münevver Karabulut and the prime suspect established as Cem Garipoğlu. Bloodstains found at the Garipoğlu villa. March 7: The suspect's parents, Mehmet Nida Garipoğlu and Makbule Tülay Garipoğlu, and cab driver M.C.B who drove the dead body to Etiler detained. All three released pending trial. April 25: The first autopsy report was completed and submitted to the police and the prosecution. April 26: Police chief at the time Celalettin Cerrah draws ire blaming the family for not having kept their daughter “in check.” April 27: Suspect's father Nida Garipoğlu arrested when his DNA was found under the victim's nails. April 30: Diaries of the victim made public, showing her opinions about Garipoğlu, his family and of what the teenagers did when they were together. May 04: Victims friends and family lay a black wreath in front of the villa where Karabulut was murdered. May 14: An international red bulletin issued for suspect at large Garipoğlu. May 21: Forensic Medicine Council announces other DNA samples found on victim's body. Suspect's friends and family called to give DNA samples. May 30: DNA samples from Garipoğlu's family do not match those found on body. June 10: Garipoğlu and Karabulut's instant messages and camera footage showing them entering the villa made public. June 23: An individual identified as Şinasi D. arrested on charges of threatening victim's father Süreyya Karabulut. June 02: A major search warrant issued by Interpol for Garipoğlu. June 07: Earlier DNA samples found on victim's body established as having spread during autopsy from a nearby autopsy desk causing a major scandal. Aug. 19: Twelve members of the Garipoğlu family detained. Home of Garipoğlu's uncle Hayyam Garipoğlu, a well-known businessman, searched with the home computer being seized by police. Aug. 20: Nine individuals working at Garipoğlu Holding detained. Homes and computers of senior executives searched. Aug. 21: Police raids homes of Garipoğlu's aunts and grandmother, seizing their computers. Aug. 27: Police discover SMS correspondence between Karabulut and a lieutenant. Aug. 28: The text messages established to be from the day of the murder. Aug. 30: Journalist Cemil Baran detained on charges of perjury, and denying in a testimony to the prosecutors that he earlier acted as an intermediary between Karabulut's father Süreyya Karabulut and Garipoğlu's uncle Hayyam Garipoğlu. Sept. 03: Süreyya Karabulut holds a protest in front of Garipoğlu Holding headquarters with a red handsaw. Tells members of the press that Garipoğlu was supposed to be handed over to police on Aug. 25, when the family was to make a large payment to him, but none of it happened. Sept. 09: Rumors abound that Garipoğlu has been captured in Armenia. Later, the interior minister denies these. Sept. 12: Interior Minister Beşir Atalay, Governor Muammer Güler and Police Chief Hüseyin Çapkın make statements that Garipoğlu will be captured soon and the police have a good lead on his whereabouts. Sept. 17: Garipoğlu is surrendered to the police by his lawyer on the 197th day of the murder in İstanbul's Bahçelievler district. İstanbul Today's Zaman

Garipoğlu was believed to be hiding abroad, with speculation focusing on Russia and Armenia. However, his surrender in İstanbul suggests that he might have never left the country after the murder. Indeed, sources say that he said in his initial interrogation he had not left Turkey over the past six months.

He also refused to give any names, saying he was taken to a "house with a yard" by someone whom he did not know. This initial information raises question as to who could have helped him hide for so long.

The first reaction came from Altan Altınyurt, the lawyer of the Karabulut family, who said: “News stories say Garipoğlu was turned in by his family. His mom is in the States, his father in jail [on charges of abetting]. Who delivered Cem? This looks like a theater play to me.”

Also yesterday, speaking to a television station, Haber Türk daily Editor-in-Chief Faith Altaylı claimed they had information suggesting Garipoğlu was hiding in Syria. “Our understanding was that they were going to turn him in at the border, but they did it in İstanbul instead,” he said.

One person, Karabulut's grieving father Süreyya Karabulut, who has worked hard in the past six months to keep the murder in newspaper headlines, felt grateful. “I would like to thank our police department and other officials who made this possible. Our state has kept its promise,” he said. Earlier, İstanbul's newly appointed chief of police promised Karabulut's killer would be found.

Karabulut also pointed to the possible abettors in the case, speaking to the CNN Türk television station on Thursday. He said there were at least 20 people helping Garipoğlu hide. “I trust the Turkish judiciary. However, whoever helped him hide should also be found out.” Karabulut also expressed suspicion concerning Garipoğlu's surrender out of the blue. “Some question marks remain. I am not sure if he surrendered as part of a deal or if they captured him,” he said. He also thanked the press for their support. He said the truth (regarding the family's involvement) would come out in all its details as the murder is further investigated.

He also claimed Garipoğlu had not surrendered but was actually captured. “These will come out in the process ahead. I will declare publicly what I know when the time comes. I want the Turkish people to learn the truth. I have no documents, but I have witnesses. We as a family, our friends, have worked out to find the background. We had information even from inside the Garipoğlu house. But we couldn't express ourselves clearly,” he said. Addressing earlier press stories that he wanted 3 million euros from the Garipoğlu family, he said: “I was misunderstood. Will the money bring my daughter back? Of course I'll get money and look out for my daughter's rights. God is on the side of truth. No matter what anyone says, there are 20 to 25 people behind this murder, not only Cem Garipoğlu.” He also complained about journalists who wanted to make a movie of Karabulut's life and murder.

Under the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), reduced sentences are handed out to those aiding and abetting family members.

In the first pictures following his surrender, taken by media outlets while he was being taken to the hospital for a medical examination before being transferred to the juvenile department, Garipoğlu appears exhausted, with short hair and a beard, in a pair of jeans and a black jacket. Also, as he was being escorted by the police to the hospital, tens of citizens in front of the juvenile department protested, with some attempting to reach him. The police had to cordon off the hospital entrance to ward off angry bystanders.

Cem Garipoğlu's lawyer handed him over to the Bahçelievler Police Department in İstanbul at 12:45 a.m. on Thursday. The mother of Münevver Karabulut, Nagihan Karabulut (above right), came to the juvenile department on Thursday. Münevver Karabulut's grieving father Süreyya Karabulut (below right) thanked officials who participated in the months-long search for Garipoğlu.

Garipoğlu's lawyer, Aytekin Kaya, who spoke with the suspect at the juvenile department, told reporters during a meeting afterwards that he had explained to Garipoğlu that if he is arrested, he would be jailed, indicted, tried and then possibly sentenced. Kaya added that since Garipoğlu is a minor, it is unlikely for him to get a sentence without the possibility of parole. Speaking to CNN Türk, Kaya also said Garipoğlu's first words before he surrendered to the police were, “I am sorry for my dad.” His father, Nida Garipoğlu, was arrested for aiding and abetting. Meanwhile, Kaya asked Garipoğlu if he wanted anything before being turned in. The suspect asked for a sucuk, or Turkish sausage, sandwich.