FATHER JAILED FOR LIFE FOR 'HONOUR KILLING' OF TULAY GOREN
Mehmet Goren, the father of 15-year-old Tulay Goren, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years after being convicted of her murder, which was described as an 'honour killing.' Tulay had gone missing ten years before the trial, and authorities found that she was murdered because she had fallen in love with Halil Unal, a man from a different Islamic sect, and had run away to live with him.
Her family disapproved of their relationship due to religious differences, as Unal was Sunni Muslim and they belonged to the Alevi community.
Although police believe her body was temporarily buried in their backyard, her remains have not been recovered.
The conviction occurred at the Old Bailey, where Mehmet Goren was found guilty of killing his daughter; his elder brother Ali and younger brother Cuma were cleared of charges.
Her mother, Hanim, provided testimony against her husband, recalling that she saw Tulay tied up the day before her death, and she directly questioned Mehmet in court, saying, 'Look at my face.
What did you do to Tulay?' The motive for the murder was to restore the family's 'honour' within their community.
The investigation was led by Detective Inspector Dave Corby, who commended Hanim's courage in pursuing justice.
Tulay’s sister, Nuray, later called on her father to reveal Tulay’s whereabouts, aiming to finally rest her sister and achieve peace.
This case was notable as the first instance where the Crown Prosecution Service employed expert witnesses in prosecutions related to 'honour' crimes.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
Mehmet Goren, the father of 15-year-old Tulay Goren, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years after being convicted of her murder, which was described as an 'honour killing.' Tulay had gone missing ten years before...
Life or indeterminate sentence
22 years
Mehmet Goren, the father of 15-year-old Tulay Goren, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years after being convicted of her murder, which was described as an 'honour killing.' Tulay had gone missing ten years before the trial, and authorities found that she was murdered because she had fallen in love with Halil Unal, a man from a different Islamic sect, and had run away to live with him
Prison sentence
22 years
Mehmet Goren, the father of 15-year-old Tulay Goren, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years after being convicted of her murder, which was described as an 'honour killing.' Tulay had gone missing ten years before the trial, and authorities found that she was murdered because she had fallen in love with Halil Unal, a man from a different Islamic sect, and had run away to live with him
