Turkish police concluded a five-month investigation regarding a marriage proposal that resulted in the death of the intended bride-to-be.
Nizamettin Gursu, the boyfriend of 39-year-old Yesim Demir, was arrested in connection with her death following a cliffside proposal in Canakkale, a city in northwestern Turkey, on July 6. The incident has been surrounded by various unanswered questions.
During or after the proposal, Demir fell approximately 100 feet off a cliff. Gursu initially stated that he had gone to his car for drinks to celebrate and upon returning, found that Demir had fallen, after hearing her scream.
The police investigation revealed several inconsistencies in Gursu’s story. Notably, the engagement ring he claimed to have given to Demir was found in his pocket, not on Demir’s hand. Evidence at the scene, such as broken glasses and a music speaker, indicated a possible physical confrontation.
Demir’s family has stated that she was planning to end her relationship with Gursu and was unlikely to have accepted his marriage proposal. They also mentioned her panic attacks, which made her unlikely to be near the cliff’s edge voluntarily.
Demir initially survived the fall but later died from her injuries. Gursu, initially portraying himself as a bereaved fiancé, is now detained pending trial, following a complaint by Demir’s family.
In his statement, Gursu described the location’s romantic importance and acknowledged they had consumed alcohol prior to the incident. “We chose it to have a romantic memory after the proposal. Everything happened at once. She lost her balance and fell down,” he said.
The case has highlighted the critical issue of femicide in Turkey. According to the Monument Counter, the number of women killed by men in Turkey is alarmingly high, with at least 380 cases reported this year, following 383 cases in the previous year.
