Shocking: Father uses knife on kids' throats during video call

A total of eight years and three months in prison was handed down to Şiyar Alpaslan, a 31-year-old resident of Izmir, following a trial that resolved jurisdictional disputes between courts. The defendant was convicted for intentionally injuring his child and making armed threats against his spouse, with the court declining to apply any sentence reductions.

Details of the incident

The case originated from a domestic dispute involving Fatma C., Alpaslan’s 27-year-old wife, who had filed for divorce due to severe incompatibility. After leaving their two children with Alpaslan, she relocated to Burdur. On November 18, 2024, Alpaslan allegedly initiated a video call with Fatma C. During this call, he placed a knife against the throats of their seven- and three-year-old children, using them as leverage to threaten his wife.

Fatma C. reported the incident to police authorities, leading to Alpaslan’s detention in the Karabağlar district. While the children were initially taken into state protection, they were subsequently returned to their mother following an investigation. Alpaslan remained in custody pending legal proceedings.

Jurisdictional conflict

Prosecutors initially sought up to six and a half years in prison for intentional injury and armed threats. The İzmir 29th Criminal Court of First Instance accepted the indictment but released Alpaslan during the first hearing. This release was overturned by the İzmir Public Prosecutor's Office, resulting in his re-arrest.

A significant procedural delay occurred when the İzmir 29th Criminal Court of First Instance ruled that the act constituted attempted murder, declaring itself incompetent to try the case and transferring it to a heavy criminal court. Conversely, the İzmir 18th Heavy Criminal Court determined the actions met the criteria for the crime of threat, arguing the case belonged in a lower court.

To resolve this deadlock, the İzmir Regional Court of Appeals’ 23rd Criminal Chamber intervened. It ordered that Alpaslan be tried for attempted murder and directed the file back to the İzmir 18th Heavy Criminal Court. During this extended legal process, the couple finalized their divorce.

Detention and prior convictions

In December 2025, a hearing granted Alpaslan house arrest under judicial control. However, objections from prosecutors and lawyers led the İzmir 19th Heavy Criminal Court to review the decision. The court concluded that house arrest was insufficient to ensure the victims' safety, ordering Alpaslan’s return to prison.

Alpaslan faced additional legal consequences while incarcerated. A separate trial at the İzmir 53rd Criminal Court of First Instance addressed threats made against Fatma C. during phone calls with his mother, Ş.K. In that distinct case, Alpaslan was sentenced to four years and eleven months, while his mother received a one-and-a-half-year sentence.

Trial defense and final ruling

The final hearing took place at the İzmir 18th Heavy Criminal Court, where Alpaslan participated via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS), while his attorneys appeared in person. The prosecutor requested punishment for simple injury against his child and threats against his spouse.

Alpaslan pleaded not guilty, claiming he had raised the children alone and suffered hardships alongside them. He stated, "Fatma dragged me here. I have been both mother and father to my children. The other side speaks without knowing what I endured. I haven't seen my children for two years."

The panel ultimately rejected these defenses. They sentenced Alpaslan to two years and three months for the intentional injury charge and six years for the armed threat charge against his spouse. No mitigating circumstances were applied to reduce the aggregate eight-year, three-month term.