Second Paşalı murder trial begins in İzmir

The case is being called “the second Paşalı case,” after murder victim Ayşe Paşalı, who has become a symbol of male violence against women in Turkey.

Hüseyin Civek allegedly killed his wife Selma Civek on Jan. 14 because she wanted to divorce him. The 40-year-old woman was stabbed 22 times. In addition to the suspect, the victim's daughter Pınar Civek and her sister Olcay Aksaç appeared in court on Friday. They have co-plaintiff status in the case.

In the trial the suspect denied his earlier testimony to police and the prosecutor, saying he hadn't killed his wife. He also claimed that his wife was having an extramarital affair. “Give me 15 counts of life sentences without the possibility of parole. I swear I won't even appeal against it. I only ask you to explain my wife's affair to my children. The phone records should be brought to court, and then I will submit my defense testimony,” he said, addressing the presiding judge.

Pınar Civek, the daughter of the victim, said her mother cleaned other people's houses and also worked as a gardener to take care of her family. She said her father, Hüseyin Civek, didn't work and constantly lived off her mother's money. She also said fights at home were common. Civek said her father had threatened her mother with a knife roughly three months prior to the murder. This could prove a serious blow to the defendant's testimony later on in the case, as it might serve as evidence of premeditation.

“My dad stabbed and injured my mother and was arrested and did 28 days in jail. When he was in prison he told my mom that he would accept her demand for divorce and asked her to withdraw her complaint. She then took back her complaint and he was released. The court issued a three-month restraining order, but this pretty much remained only on paper. My dad continued the death threats. My mother filed another complaint and filed for divorce. She was murdered -- stabbed to death in the middle of the street on Jan. 14 despite there being a restraining order against this man. I want the harshest punishment for my father,” she said in a testimony that also points to instances of negligence on the part of officials.

The young woman also said the suspect had told other members of the family that he would kill her mother. “He wants to smear my mother's name now,” she said, referring to the suspect's allegations that his wife was cheating on him. “He didn't do his job as a father. He never took care of us. I am proud of my mother,” she said.