The Separate Case for "Illegal Burial" Against the Five Was Dropped Due to Statute of Limitations

Turkey's Court of Cassation upheld the life sentence for convicted defendant Tuncer Ustael and the acquittals of five suspects in the case known as the "Palu family, linked to the killing of Melike Tahnal in Sakarya. The high court's 1st Criminal Chamber confirmed Ustael's life term for "intentional killing of a child with possible intent" and his acquittal on charges of "sexual abuse of a child, while also upholding the acquittals of Ayşe, Hava, İsa, and Fatih Palu, and Emine Ustael on charges of "intentional killing of a child. Ustael remains in custody.

The case stems from the disappearances of Meryem Tahnal in 2008 and her daughter Melike in 2009 in Kocaeli's Körfez district, with no remains found despite searches. In earlier proceedings, Ustael received aggravated life imprisonment for Meryem's murder, plus additional sentences, while other defendants received various prison terms. After the Court of Cassation overturned those verdicts, a retrial on October 3, 2023, resulted in Ustael receiving aggravated life for Meryem's killing, and others receiving sentences for aiding murder.

For Melike's death, Ustael was sentenced to life for "intentional killing of a child with possible intent" and acquitted of sexual abuse, with the other five acquitted of intentional killing. The separate case for "illegal burial against the five was dropped due to statute of limitations.