An alleged killer on trial for blasting his girlfriend in the chest with a shotgun after she dumped him has asked her parents for forgiveness in what her dad says is a cynical bid to have the charges reduced.

The 22-year-old victim, Gulnur Kocabas, had reportedly been abused by boyfriend Yusuf Akbulut, 27, throughout their three-year relationship and when she finally plucked up the courage to leave him for good, he tracked her down and then allegedly blasted her in the chest with a shotgun, killing her instantly.

He then waited for police to turn up and calmly handed himself over in the Turkish city of Manisa in the country’s western Aegean Region on 28th May 2020.

Local news outlet CNN Turk reported that Gulnur was on her way to work when her boyfriend called out to her on the street.

When Gulnur turned she did not even have a chance to say anything as Yusuf allegedly fired with both barrels, hitting her in the chest.

Police arrived at the scene shortly after and the suspect handed himself over.

The suspect was detained and is currently on trial for aggravated murder, facing life imprisonment if convicted. According to the Turkish Penal Code, prisoners sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment can only be paroled after serving at least 36 years.

According to the local media outlet Haber Ne Diyor (HND), the suspect said the following in his defence: “I regret it very much. I offer my condolences to her family. I hope they can forgive me. We were together for three years. I did it because she cheated on me.”

Still according to Haber Ne Diyor, Eyup Kocabas, the victim’s father, said: “His apology has only made us more upset. When he killed her, he killed a part of us.”

Eyup reportedly claimed that he is simply trying to have the penalty reduced, adding: “He is lying to our faces. He slanders my daughter by claiming that she cheated on him, because there is no Gulnur anymore who can confront him and say ‘you are lying’.”

One of the victim’s friends named Merve Candir, described the abuse her friend had been suffering during the three years that the couple spent together.

Merve, who was heard as a witness at the hearing, said: “Yusuf abused Gulnur both physically and emotionally for years.”

She added: ” Whenever she tried to leave him, she would be coerced into staying.”

Akbulut’s trial has been postponed until 27th April as more witness of the crime are coming forward to testify.