Murder suspects deleted 142 messages investigation reveals

Police investigation into the murder of 28-year-old Nigerian student, Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede has shown that 142 text messages were deleted from the phones of the suspects in a bid to conceal their crime.

Kennedy was kidnapped by 7 people on Monday, January, 29 from his resident in Famagusta and then taken to the Çanakkale lake in the outskirt of the city where he was seriously beaten and killed.

Following the incident, 7 suspects identified as Ozan Korkurt, 18, Zekeriya Founder, 22, Burcu Çelik, 16, Onur Körkurt, 21, Simge Dağdur, 28, Aydan Sel and Nidai Şanlı, 28 were all arrested in connection with the murder and charged to court for murder, human abduction and serious assault.

Following investigation by the police, it was found that the suspects had deleted messages on their mobile phones. 

Examination by Data Expert Expert revealed that 142 conversations before, during and after the incident on the phone belonging to one of the suspects were deleted.

Also, police said the mobile phones belonging to other suspects, including SMS, Facebook, Messenger and Whatsapp have been detected and retrieved in 3 DVDs and will be examined.

Police investigator, said clothes wore by the suspects on the day of the murder which were among evidences submitted for analysis are yet to arrive from Turkey.

All suspects were arraigned before a Famagusta court on February 16 and 23 before being ordered to remain in police custody for another 7 days while investigation continues.