TRNC court remands man who confessed to killing his wife in custody for three days

A court in the TRNC has remanded a 41-year-old man who confessed to killing his wife in custody for three days. Thirty-five-year-old Rukiye Tunçer (Rukiye Tunçer) died on the Güzelyurt–Lefkoşa highway near the Alayköy industrial zone (Alayköy).

According to police, the couple were travelling in a car when an argument broke out between them. The car veered off the road, after which the man struck his wife in the face with a work tool that was in the vehicle. The woman died. The incident occurred at around 18:45.

In court, the suspect was identified by the initials S. A. T. He pleaded guilty, and the court ordered that he remain in custody for three days so that the investigation could proceed without interference.

The death of Rukiye Tunçer prompted a reaction from politicians. Serhat Akpınar, secretary-general of the Democratic Party (DP) and a member of parliament, called for a thorough and swift investigation and for the perpetrator to receive the maximum sentence provided for by law.

Akpınar also said that legislation on domestic violence must be changed without delay: in his words, a woman who seeks help should enter an effective protection system, while cooperation between the police and social services and monitoring of protection orders must be flawless.