Author: Sonja Francis

THE husband of a Thame woman, murdered alongside her married daughter, has today been describing the night the man accused of their killing came banging on the door of his shop with a knife in his hand.

Thame Pizza Parlour owner, Mehmer Sahin, with his wife, victim Julie Sahin, shared a home in Ireton Court, Thame, with Julie?s daughter, Michala and her husband, the accused, Ensar Gol. Mehner described how relations between the mother-in-law and her new son-in-law had been turbulent from the start, Julie not happy with his ?macho attitude to women,? and at one time had called Gol ‘a psycho’. He went on to describe how Ensar tried to dominate Mickala, ?telling her she can?t do this, mustn?t go there.? But Michaela was ?a free spirit,? continued Mehmer. The couple?s rows would often wake him up, he said.

THREATS

Ensar had become visibly more jealous lately, continued Mehmer, since he had discovered that Michaela had been in touch with an old flame in Turkey, and had said to him (Mehmer) that he ?might end up killing them (Julie and Michaela)?. He had not taken this, and two other similar threats seriously, he explained because: ?Lads in Turkey say these things to show they are a big man.?
He had been puzzled by a question posed earlier in the evening by a quiet and ?slightly drunk? Ensar, who had called in briefly at the Pizza Parlour, with the news that his grandfather had died: ?If he, (Ensar) Julie and Michaela disappeared, what would happen to the kids?? Mehmer said he told Ensar that they would probably stay with him.

BLOOD-STAINED TROUSERS

Mehmer Sahin continued with his evidence. Under questioning, he told the Prosecution Barrister, Dafydd Enoch, that the next time he saw Ensar was at around 2.30am the next morning when he was cashing up, and he heard Ensar kicking at the door, swearing at him to open it. ?He had a knife in his hand. I could see blood stains on his trousers. I opened the door and Ensar shouted: ?I?ve done it!?

DISPUTED EVIDENCE

Mehmer Sahin?s evidence was later thrown into doubt by the Defence Barrister, Richard Benson, who had suggested through questioning that Julia Sahin was herself prone to anger, and had thrown plates at her husband and on another occasion, had waved a knife around and threatened to kill Ensar Gol. Mehmer denied that any of this was true. ?It just didn?t happen,? he said.

Mr Benson suggested that in fact, the threats ?never happened? after Mehmer Sahin failed to satisfy him of the reasons why he, Sahin, had neither warned his wife of the threats made by Gol nor reported them to the police.

WITNESS IN TEARS

?We didn?t get a chance to talk to each other. I was working 80 hours a week,? he replied. Later, he read from his statement the following: ?I feel lost. The only thing that gets me up are the kids and their welfare. I want answers. I can?t think. The loss of my family and not being able to be with them in the same way ever again, hurts me.?

When asked why there were some inconsistencies between his statement to the police and his evidence today in court, he explained: ?I had not slept (when the statement was made) – I was lost. I was tired.?
Mehmer was visibly distressed at this point, while the accused sat unshaven, impassively, looking like a different man to the cocky individual who had grinned for the cameras after his court appearance on September 6, last year.

?I CUT THEM ALL IN THEIR SLEEP?

Today?s other witness was Ali Aka, who worked in the Pizza Parlour in Thame, and was working on the night Ensor Gol made his dramatic arrival. Aka claimed that it was he who let Gol into the shop after hearing him banging on the locked door. He said that when he asked Gol what he had done, Gol replied that he had ?cut them all.?

Aka then related a telephone call he heard Gol making outside the shop, still holding the knife, in which he said to his cousin: ?If someone is married to me, they must listen to me. I cut them all in their sleep. Don?t leave my kids here. (Sell everything?) Come and get my kids. If I get heavy sentence here, I will ask to be transferred to Turkey.? He then apparently repeated: ?Why don?t you believe me? I did cut them.?

CONFUSION OVER INTERPRETATION

There then followed a lot of debate over the whether the word ?cut? translated into Turkish, could mean ?to cut off contact with?, to actually cut someone or to ?butcher? someone, with questions from the Defence and Gol?s interpreter about the efficacy of Aka?s interpreter, adding to the confusion.

In the end the Judge, Mr Justice Supperstone, cleared the court for the day so that the lawyers could meet in Chambers to discuss the empasse.

The case resumes tomorrow at 10am

PHOTO: Ensar Gol

NB Reporting restrictions (some voluntary) have been applied to certain aspects of this case to protect the identity of any minor involved

CHILDREN from John Hampden Primary School, Thame, will help form Guard of Honour at start of Athletes? Parade for the 2012 London Olympics.

The School has been selected as a ‘Get Set network’ school and will join 249 other schools from across the UK in the network to line the route as the athletes make their way through the Olympic Park into the Olympic Stadium, for the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

At the start of the Athletes? Parade, the students from John Hampden school will join 249 other schools from across the UK, making up the 2,000 student Guard of Honour, holding lanterns and banners they have created to support one of the 204 competing teams. For many of the 10,500 athletes the Guard of Honour will be their first experience of the London 2012 Games.

The children have been preparing to provide a vibrant and diverse welcome for athletes competing at the Games. The Thame students are already learning about the cultures and athletes of the Honduras team as part of their celebrations for London 2012 World Sport Day, taking place next month on June 25. World Sport Day, presented by Lloyds TSB, will see schools across the UK join together in celebrating how sport can bring the cultures of the world together.

John Hampden Primary School have been selected through the reward and recognition programme of the Get Set network, the official London 2012 education programme. They have demonstrated a commitment to living the Olympic and Paralympic Values and incorporating them into their school lives and curriculum.

The pupils at John Hampden School are looking forward to taking part in the Guard of Honour: “I?m feeling really nervous because there are going to be loads of people,? said Jamie Howard Green.

?I will be overwhelmed at seeing the athletes,? commented Clayton Ford, and Alex Buchanan added: “It?s nerve racking knowing that we are going to have a once a life time opportunity.?

?I am stunned that I got chosen to go,? said Nadia Pedley.

The school’s plans for World Sport Day and what they have learnt about their chosen teams include:

– Opening Ceremony including march past with flags of
our school houses and Honduras
– Whole school participation in the Mascot Dance
– Track and field finals
– Medal ceremony

LOCOG Chair, Seb Coe said: “The presence of so many young people at the start of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony will continue to show London 2012?s commitment to put young people at the heart of the Games. For athletes, the Guard of Honour will provide a stunning welcome to the Games and the perfect curtain raiser for the Athletes? Parade.”

As well as having the opportunity to cheer on the world?s best athletes and be part of a global moment, the school children will also get the exciting chance to tour the Olympic Park and see some of the London 2012 venues before the world turns its attention to Danny Boyle?s Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium later that day.

The Athletes? Parade will see the participating teams enter the Stadium, nation by nation. Teams enter in alphabetical order, according to the language of the Host Country and IOC protocol order, apart from the Greek team which enters first for the Olympic Games, and the team of the Host Nation (Team GB), who enter last.

PHOTO: Pupils from John Hampden School, Thame, with the flag of Honduras

THE family of Robin Gibb have asked fans to donate to the Isle of Man?s Rebecca House hospice instead of sending flowers.

The 62 year old singer died on Sunday evening following a long battle with cancer and a bout of pneumonia which left him in a coma for 12 days.

A message posted on his official Facebook page states that his wife Dwina, would appreciate a donation to the charity instead of floral tributes.

Robin was born on the Isle of Man and opened the children?s hospice in the Spring in 2008.

Tributes from local people continue, including from the Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken Woods, on behalf of Thame Town Council. He said: “We are sorry to hear about the passing of Robin and we send our condolences to his friends and family. He was a great singer and songwriter and he leaves behind a legacy of beautiful songs.?

Jon Littler, one of the founders of The First Thursday Music Club that runs open mic nights to showcase local musical talent, told Thamenews.net: “I was very saddened to hear of Robin Gibbs death. Together with his brothers he has seemed a pretty constant presence in music my whole life. It’s amazing how often you hear a melody you really like to find out it was a Bee Gees composition. Robin’s choosing to live in our Thame gave us all a little proprietary pride.”