Murder of Nigerian student: "I regret, I would not want to kill" - Murder suspect tells court

One of the suspects arrested for the murder of 28-year-old Nigerian student, Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede on Monday last week in Famagusta has said he regret his action saying that it was not intentional.

Nidai Şanlı who was arrested at Akyar Border Gate with south Cyprus on Saturday and arraigned before a Famagusta court same day is the last of the 7 gang member to be arrested in connection with the death of Kennedy.

He was charged for "murder", "forced kidnapping" and "serious assault."

When being questioned in court, Nidai Şanlı voluntary testified that his intention was to scare him and not to kill him.

I'm sorry. I would not want to kill. Nobody wants to kill anyone. I did not want to, I did it to frighten, he said expressing regret.

Police witness told the court that the suspect along with other suspects, Zekeriya Founder, 22, Ozan Körkurt, 18 and Onur Körkurt, 21 had on Monday 29 January 2018 stormed the resident of late Kennedy to collect money from him.

The victim was then forcibly adopted from his residence with his car and taken to the Çanakkale Pond in the outskirt of the city where he was beaten and killed in a brutal manner.

Police said Kennedy's body was found half naked in the pond by two children who were walking around the area.

After committing the crime, Nidai Sanli on Tuesday January 30, 2018, escaped to south Cyprus illegally through the Akyar Kara border gate with south Cyprus.

The other suspects, Burcu Çelik, 16, Onur Körkurt, 21 and Simge Dağdur, 28, were arrested on Wednesday January, 31 and charged to court with murder, human abduction and serious assault. They are due to appear in court again on Friday, February 9, 2017.

After examining his testimony, the court judge ordered that Nidai Sanli remain in detention for three days pending investigation.

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