Relatives of man killed in Girne traffic accident outraged by court verdict

The Girne Court has delivered its verdict in the case of the fatal traffic accident in which 25-year-old motorcyclist Rifat Gezici was killed. The driver of the car, who was found guilty of causing the accident, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison.

The court also ordered that the convicted driver be banned from driving for one year after serving his sentence.

Following the announcement of the decision, the victim’s relatives expressed strong dissatisfaction with the verdict. Rifat Gezici’s mother, father and other relatives said they considered the sentence insufficient.

The victim’s mother said that her son had not received justice in the punishment imposed on the person responsible for his death, and called for a stricter approach to drivers whose negligence causes fatal accidents.

The court found the driver guilty on three counts, including causing death by negligence as a result of a traffic accident.

During the proceedings, the court noted that the speed limit on that section of the road was 50 km/h. It was also stated that the motorcycle’s speed at the moment of the collision was estimated to be below 100 km/h. The absence of protective equipment on the victim was also taken into account among the circumstances of the case.

The accident occurred on 17 June 2025 on 15 November Street in the Pınarbaşı area. The car driven by İbrahim Tımbıl collided with Rifat Gezici’s motorcycle. The young man suffered serious injuries and died at Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in Lefkoşa.

After the verdict was issued, relatives of victims of other traffic accidents gathered outside the courthouse. They also called for stricter punishments for fatal accidents.