Interim decision in the case of Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi: The hearing has been postponed to May 8.

Two defendants appeared before the judge today in the case regarding the murder of Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi. It was reported that an investigation has been initiated concerning the destruction of Mattia Ahmet's grave.

The first hearing of the case involving the murder of 15-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi, who was fatally attacked with a knife in Kadıköy, was held on Thursday. An interim decision was announced in this case, which is closely followed by Turkey. The hearing took place under heavy security measures in the 2nd Children's Heavy Criminal Court of the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse. After the statements of the children involved in the crime were completed, witness testimonies were taken. The court decided to hear one more witness and postponed the next hearing to May 8. The detention of the defendants was ordered to continue. The Ministry of Family and Social Services requested to intervene in the case, and this request was accepted by the court. The hearing was attended by Mattia Ahmet's mother Yasemin Akıncılar Minguzzi, father Andrea Minguzzi, and the parties' lawyers, while journalists and spectators were not allowed due to a decision for confidentiality. In addition to citizens, famous actors showed significant interest in the hearing. A crowd gathered outside the courthouse shouted slogans such as "Justice for Ahmet" and "We don't want a killer on the streets."

Regarding the destruction of his grave, lawyer Rezan Epözdemir of the Minguzzi family reported that Mattia Ahmet's grave had been vandalized. In a statement on social media, Epözdemir said, "This morning, an attack occurred on the grave of our client's only child, Ahmet Minguzzi. I have spoken with law enforcement officials. They are conducting the necessary examinations at the cemetery. The family has been receiving death threats for about two months. We are now heading to the hearing." The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation ex officio for the crime of "Damaging Cemeteries." In a statement, the prosecutor's office said, "Necessary procedures are being meticulously carried out to uncover the material truth in all aspects of the investigation."

Epözdemir had previously filed a criminal complaint with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to threats against the family. It was revealed that the family had been receiving threatening messages for nearly two months, including death threats and messages containing threats and insults from social media users claiming to be friends of the assailant.

15-year-old Mattia Ahmet lost his life as a result of a knife attack in Kadıköy. The murder has sparked intense discussions about youth violence, and the potential impact of the assailant being under 18 on criminal responsibility has also come to the fore. Following the investigation, an indictment was prepared against 15-year-old B.B., who stabbed Minguzzi five times, and 16-year-old U.B., who kicked Minguzzi after he fell to the ground, for "intentional murder of a child" with a request for up to 24 years in prison. The Minguzzi family and the public demand that the defendants receive the heaviest penalties, arguing that this case should set a deterrent precedent for similar incidents. Legal experts indicate that applying a juvenile discount is mandatory under existing laws. This means that the suspects could potentially be released from correctional institutions within approximately 10 years under conditional release.

In Turkey, courts cannot set a precedent decision to not apply age discounts for juvenile defendants within the framework of existing laws because Article 31 of the Turkish Penal Code is binding, and courts cannot make decisions contrary to the law. Therefore, unless the Constitutional Court or the Parliament changes the law, it is not possible for children to be tried like adults. If there is significant public outcry and a proposal for a change in legislation is put forward, the Parliament may amend the Turkish Penal Code to introduce a system similar to "Trial as an Adult." However, current laws do not allow for such an application.

Additionally, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had met with the family in the past weeks. The meeting was attended by Mattia Ahmet's mother Yasemin Akıncılar Minguzzi, father Andrea Minguzzi, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, NUN Education and Culture Foundation Chair Esra Albayrak, and AK Party Istanbul deputy Müşerref Pervin Tuba Durgut. After the meeting, Durgut announced that the issue would be brought to the agenda of the Parliament and that a new regulation would be initiated. Durgut emphasized that the term "juvenile delinquents" is used for offenders under 18, stating, "The execution system for them operates somewhat differently. However, we have experienced that the execution system can become blocked, as it did in this case, for murders that deeply wound public conscience and are committed brutally." Durgut also reported that Erdoğan instructed preventive measures to be taken in coordination with different ministries regarding juvenile delinquency and to address the blocked points in the execution system through legal revision.