A husband who stabbed his wife so violently that the knife bent and he had to get a second one to finish her off has argued that he should not be punished as he was mentally unstable at the time and therefore not responsible for his actions.

The killing took place when a quarrel broke out between Osman Cenk Karatas, 42, and his wife Serpil Karatas, 42, in the district of Nilufer in the north-western Turkish province of Bursa in June 2020.

He was reportedly furious that she was divorcing him and suspected she already had somebody else lined up, and in a jealous rage, Karatas allegedly repeatedly stabbed Serpil with the knife he took from the kitchen.

The court heard that when the knife bent from the violence of the attack, he went to the kitchen to get a replacement and then continue to stab her.

After Serpil died, Karatas fled the scene with his car taking all the money in the house as well as his wife’s jewellery.

Emergency teams were called home after 11-year-old Elanaz Karatas, who saw the body of her mother after coming home, informed her uncle, Erdal Senturk, age not disclosed, who lived in the same apartment, although who was not there at the time.

While emergency teams confirmed that Serpil was dead, Karatas’ car was stopped by the police on the way. Karatas was arrested and he was arrested and remanded in custody.

The trial of Karatas, who has been sued for aggravated life imprisonment for ‘murdering with cruel intent’, was held today (28th April) at the Bursa 3rd High Criminal Court.

In the report prepared about the defendant Karatas, who demanded a report better get his claim that he was mentally unstable, it was stated that the defendant was responsible for his actions.

Karatas, who has spoken for the first time in his defence, told the court: “I am sorry for committing this fault (sic)”.

At that point, the president of the court intervened and told Karatas that murder is not considered a fault, but a crime.

He continued that his wife with whom he had two children were in the process of getting a divorce, and he committed the crime because he suspected that his wife was cheating on him.

Serpil’s brother, Erdal, made a statement about the incident and stated that the defendant lied. He added that he would take care of his sister’s children.

After the defence of the defendant, the court adjourned the hearing for further witnesses to be heard.