Suspect arrested in Turkish journalist's murder

The suspect, identified as Serkan E., told the police he did not mean to kill Cihan Hayırsevener and aimed at his legs, apparently only to scare him over "hostility" between the two, Anatolia said.

A prosecutor is now to draw up an indictment detailing the charges before a trial can start.

The suspected gunman was caught Tuesday, hiding in a house near Bandırma.

The authorities questioned two other men for suspected involvement in the shooting, but they were freed, pending trial on lesser charges, the report said.

The 53-year-old Hayırsevener, editor-in-chief of the local newspaper Güney Marmara'da Yaşam, was shot in the legs while walking in the street last Friday. Loss of blood caused his death in hospital several hours later.

His colleagues said the journalist had recently received threats.

Hayırsevener was known for investigating corruption allegations in tenders by the local administration in Bandırma.

He was reportedly involved in a bitter row with a rival newspaper, whose owner was arrested on charges of fraud earlier this year.

International organizations have condemned the murder, with the Vienna-based International Press Institute accusing the Turkish government of encouraging such attacks with its frequent criticism of the media.


/Hurriyet Daily News/