ANKARA
Ninth Penal Department of the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals upheld the aggravated life in prison sentence handed to Yasin Hayal for "masterminding and inciting" murder of Hrant Dink while it reversed the court decision to acquit Hayal for "leading an armed terrorist organization", requesting punishment of Hayal for "founding and leading an organization with felony intent".
The court completed its investigation into suspects, including Ersin Yolcu, who had requested an appeal, and announced its ruling.
Chief judge of the department, Ekrem Ertugrul, said the ruling that suspects were not members of a "terrorist organization" but of an "organization created with felony intent" was made unanimously.
