A Turkish man is on trial for beating his toddler step-daughter to death as prosecutors push for a prison term of 27 years.

Esma Asel Kolat, 2, was killed in the district of Geyve in the north-western Turkish province of Sakarya on 27th November 2018.

The case has been postponed to 22nd June as prosecutors push for a 27-year prison term for the defendant Emre S., and a sentence of two months to one year for the victim’s mother, identified as F.K., who is being tried as a defendant without arrest, according to local media.

Little Esma was taken to the Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital with head injuries and died three weeks later when her mother and stepfather were subsequently arrested.

In the forensics report, the defendant’s lawyers argued that the victim was brought to hospital with head traumas three weeks before her death, claiming that there is no evidence of any physical or sexual abuse.

At the first hearing, Esma’s father Halit K. was present in court to hear Emre S. give his statement by video link from prison.

The defendant denied all charges against him and called for his release ahead of the next hearing due to the time spent in prison already.

However, the judge agreed with the prosecutors’ request that he remain in custody until the next court hearing on 22nd June for both defendants.