Author: Sonja Francis

THE Senior Investigating Officer in the trial of Ensor Gol, Det Ch Insp Joe Kidman has issued the following statement: ?Throughout this trial, members of the jury have listened carefully to all the evidence put before them and have found Gol guilty of two counts of murder and one of attempted murder. He has now been brought to justice.

?Despite the numerous wounds to both Julie and Michala, and comments he made in person and on Facebook in clear contemplation of killing them, Gol attempted to claim that he acted in self-defence.

?In trying to evade responsibility for his crimes, Ensar Gol sought to attack the character of the two women he had murdered. This has only added to the terrible ordeal of the family, who have attended each day and listened to all the evidence. Despite their anguish they have shown great dignity throughout.

?Gol sought to accuse Casey Wilson, who was lucky to escape with her life, and Mehmet Sahin, the bereaved husband of Julie, of lying. Both bereaved and victim were subject to uncompromising questioning by the defence.

?Despite this, they showed great courage and composure in giving evidence to the court and this verdict strongly vindicates these two brave individuals.

?The police officers and paramedic who were the first to attend the house in Ireton Court were met with an horrific scene, which would have been distressing for anyone.

?They responded with great professionalism and did all they could to tend to the victims, but sadly Michala and Julie died from the injuries they suffered.

?Two of those police officers were then re-directed to the Market Place where Gol was still holding the murder weapon.

?Despite being unarmed, they showed great bravery and composure in arresting Gol out of concern for the safety of the public before other resources were able to get there.?

Gol had met Michala while she was on holiday in Turkey and they had a long-distance relationship before getting married in March 2011. They had two children together, and in August 2011 Gol moved to the UK and into the family home in Ireton Court with Michala and their two children, her mother and her mother?s husband Mehmet Sahin.

The relationship between Gol and Michala became strained after he arrived in the UK. Witnesses described Gol as being possessive and jealous and said he had made threats to kill Michala.

On Saturday 3 September, Gol failed to turn up to work at Prezzo in Cornmarket, where he was due to start work at 6.30pm. It was later established that at about 8pm, Gol had gone to the home of a woman, whom he had met the previous month, and that they had sexual intercourse. He left this woman?s house at just before 9pm.

At 1am on Sunday 4 September, Gol sent a text message to Mr Sahin, who worked at a pizza parlour in Market Place, and asked for a chat. Around 15 minutes later he arrived at the takeaway and asked Mr Sahin what would happen to his children if something happened to his wife and mother-in-law.

At about 2.10am, Gol returned to Ireton Court and went into the kitchen before going upstairs and attacking his wife in the bedroom with a knife. He attacked his mother-in-law and Miss Wilson when they went to her aid.

Despite being stabbed three times in the neck and arm, Miss Wilson managed to escape from the house and ran down the street calling for help.

Neighbours in Ireton Court called the emergency services after hearing screaming and loud noises coming from the property, and police officers and a paramedic were deployed to the scene.

On arrival they tended to Miss Wilson, but found that Michala was already dead and despite their best efforts her mother could not be saved.

After the attacks, Gol had left the house carrying his daughter and returned to the pizza takeaway in Market Place, where he left his daughter with Mr Sahin.

He was captured on CCTV cameras walking around Market Place, still holding the knife. Two police officers, who were among the first to attend the murder scene, were re-directed to Market Place.

After seeing a member of the public approach Gol, who was still holding the knife, the two unarmed officers, PCs David Simpkins and Wayne Griffin, decided they could not wait for other resources to arrive as they were concerned for the safety of the public, so they carried out the arrest.

As he was being arrested, Gol said to the officers: ?Yes I killed them, but you don?t know why?.

A Home Office pathologist carried out post-mortem examinations on Michala and Julie, and found they both died from multiple stab wounds.

Folllowing the verdict, Baljit Ubhey, OBE, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: ?We have worked closely with the police since this investigation was launched. This was a tragic crime, which led to the untimely death of Michala, and Julie Sahin, and saw terrible injuries inflicted on Casey Wilson.

?The jury found that there was overwhelming evidence against Gol and the jurors were in no doubt that he caused the deaths of Michala and Julie, and the injuries to Casey, despite his denials.

?The Crown Prosecution Service praises the strength and courage of all those who gave evidence against him, particularly Casey Wilson.

?Gol will be brought back before the courts in due course for sentencing. However, whatever the sentence is, nothing can make up for the loss felt by the family and friends of Michala and Julie. Our thoughts are very much with them and Casey at this time.?

Gol is due to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court tomorrow morning (1/6). The hearing is due to take place at 10am.

PHOTO: Ensor Gol, shortly after his arrest last September (2011)

PATSY Baker from Thame has been selected by Sainsbury’s as just one out of 100 worthy nominees to take part in the 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay on August 28 and 29.

Patsy,from Coombe Hill Crescent, and joint manager of the Barns Centre, was chosen to carry the Paralympic flame after being nominated through a scheme held at her local Sainsbury’s store in Thame High Street.

Patsy’s nomination described her as actively working in developing a sense of community and citizenship both within the Thame community and wider afield – including undertaking charity-work in both India and Africa.

Patsy has also completed over 130 marathons, raising money for many good causes, particularly Anthony Nolan Bone marrow Trust for whom she successfully donated bone marrow to in 1997.

Her love of running has led her set up a running group in Thame to encourage young mums to get fit and socialise. This has helped them to feel less isolated, but also encouraged them to take part in 10k and half marathon runs.

Patsy was also involved in helping to establish street pastors in Thame, which reach out to those who may need help or feel vulnerable.

Patsy said: “I am so excited to have been chosen to carry the Paralympic Flame as I had no idea my husband had nominated me. I am really honoured to be taking part in a momentous occasion for both the United Kingdom and Thame and can’t wait to carry the Paralympic Flame.”

Once the Flame has been lit, it will be carried by Patsy and the other torch-bearers, on a very special 24 hour relay from Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury, the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement, to the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, where the Flame will be used to officially open the Paralympic Games.

To commemorate and celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, there will be a series of public events, called Flame Festivals, during the August Bank Holiday weekend, with activities and a live stage shows. By going along to a Flame Festival, people can help to light the way to the Paralympic Games with fun activities and a lantern procession.

THAME Town Council has issued more information today about arrangements for the Consultation that is now underway on the ‘preferred Option’ for the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

Full details are available at: LINK

The council states: “The consultation, which is open until 22 June 2012, provides an opportunity for those with an interest in the future of Thame to provide feedback on the preferred option. This option has emerged from an assessment and analysis of the consultation responses submitted to the early stage consultation last Autumn, with refinement through the various forums that contribute to the Neighbourhood Plan.

“This stage of the Neighbourhood Plan process is a precursor to a formal six-week consultation on the draft Neighbourhood Plan which, subject to the responses received to the Preferred Option document, is anticipated to commence later in the summer.”

THE jury in a murder case described by the Prosecution as ‘jaw dropping,’ today heard a summing up for both the Defence and the Prosecution in the case of Ensar Gol, who allegedly murdered his wife and mother-in-law with a knife, in Thame, in September last year.

The case for the Prosecution is that Gol, an ex Turkish soldier, declared his intention to ‘cut’ his wife, British-born Michala, and his Mother-In-Law, Julie Sahin, both on Facebook and to Julie’s husband, Mehmer Sahin, and in the hearing of other witnesses.

“There is overwhelming evidence from Casey Wilson,” said Prosecution Barrister, Dafydd Enoch, “..the only eye-witness and survivor of this carnage, who came within 1 mm of death..” that you(Gol) perpetrated this act.”

Mr Enoch maintained that the wounds received by the two dead women and the injured Casey, were predominantly to their necks and therefore consistent with someone deliberately aiming to kill, rather than randomly stabbing out in self-defence. Gol’s claim is that he was attacked in his and his wife’s bedroom by Julie Sahin, and that he grabbed the knife from her and used it in self defence when he found himself being attacked by her and Casey Wilson.

Mr Enoch said that the expert blood spatter evidence and wounds to Julie Sahin’s back, proved that she was running down the stairs when she was attacked again.

For the Defence, part of Mr Richard Benson’s case was that Ensar Gol was a foreigner who found himself living in Thame, with no friends to confide in, “..yearning for the warmth of his family and friends at home (in Turkey), living in a household where the atmosphere was poisonous, with a Mother-In-Law who hated him so much that she would not go to her daughter’s wedding in Turkey, who sent ‘horrid’ texts to him and who would not sit at the same table as him to eat.”

“Julie had had enough,” said Mr Benson. “If you look at her behaviour and attitude, it is not out of the question, that she took the knife out of the block.

“She was at the end of her tether. She had it as a priority to get rid of Gol and have her daughter and granddaughter to herself.”

Mr Benson continued that it was ‘reasonable’ if, when Gol saw Julie Sahin had a knife in an apparent attacking stance, he was entitled to defend himself, and that if he lashed out in fear, “in the perception of drink” that this would be the end of his life, he would be entitled to fight back.

Ensar Gol is charged with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder. The case continues tomorrow when the judge will deliver his summing up to the jury of seven women and five men, before they retire to consider their verdict.

PHOTO: Michala Gol (left) and her mother, Julie Sahin

THERE’S to be comedy, fashion, magic, music and dance all rolled in to one at an amazing British Red Cross fundraising event in Abingdon (well worth the journey!) on June 13.

Unplugged and Undressed is a fund-raiser for The British Red cross, featuring students from Oxford and Cherwell Valley College who have been busy shopping in local Red Cross charity shops looking for items with catwalk potential. Right now, they are using their technical skills and creative flair to transform these garments into fashionable outfits ready for their ?Make Do and Mend? fashion show. Their outfits will be judged by a panel of local fashion experts including top Oxfordshire fashion designer Feng Ho.

Unplugged and Undressed will featuring top magic, comedy double act, Young & Strange, who featured last year on ?Penn & Teller:Fool us? on ITV. They will be
interrupting their current tour dates to make an appearance and wow the audience with their skills in magic and illusion.

This fun filled night will also feature music from Rock Choir and local professional acoustic duo, Kiki. Illusion dance company will also be on the stage performing the dance that won them a place in the area final of the youth dance competition, Dance:Make Your
Move.

Red Cross Intern, Vicky Greenhalgh, who has been helping to organise the event, said: “This event has got something for everyone. It?s going to be a great evening. We were so pleased that Young & Strange agreed to be involved! Having them has made it a really incredible night full of variety.

“Money raised will go towards our Red Cross Appeal Week funds which enable the continuation of our local services here in Oxfordshire and also our work further afield. It promises to be an extremely entertaining evening not to be missed!”

Unplugged and Undressed is on Wednesday, June 13, at Amey Theatre, Abingdon School, Abingdon, OX14 1DE. Tickets are currently available on 01235 552680 or
cwheatcroft@redcross.org.uk or on the door on the night.

FOLLOWING extensive work over the last few months, the preferred options for some of the key elements of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan will be the subject of a four-week public consultation that started yesterday.

The consultation will centre on proposals for the distribution of the 775 new homes to be built in Thame in the next 15 years as required by the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy. It will also include the preferred option for the allocation of employment land, together with other key sites across the town.

The consultation represents the next stage in the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan. Once responses to the preferred options have been reviewed and assessed, Thame Town Council anticipates that a draft version of the Neighbourhood Plan will be the subject of a more formal, six-week consultation across August and September, before then being submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council.

The plan will then be the subject of a local referendum and will adopted if 50% or more of those who take part, vote for the plan.

If all goes to the council’s Work Programme LINK the plan will be published by April 2013

For details about how to take part in the consultation, contact: clerk@thametowncouncil.gov.uk