Five students detained for pushing Turkish student from an apartment balcony in Lefke, get more jail time, one released

Five students who were arrested and detained for allegedly pushing a Turkish student down from the fourth floor of an apartment in Gemikonağı, Lefke were brought to court again on Tuesday and one of them released.

In the early hours of Saturday, October 20 in Gemikonagi, Lefke, a 23-year-old Turkish student, Saltuk Buğra Arıcı of the European University of Lefke sustained life threatening injuries after falling from about 7.3 meter high from the balcony of the fourth floor of an apartment building.

Following the incident, five students including three Nigerians and two Zambians who were neighbors to the victim were arrested for being responsible for the fall.

According to police report, the victim was reportedly pushed down after having an argument with his neighbors who are also students of the European University of Lefke.

The five student were taken to a Güzelyurt on Sunday and detained for three days.

A court sitting on Tuesday set one of the accused, Maria Matoya free after it was determined that she was not connected with the incident.

The other four accused were given seven more days of detention.

A police report revealed that Saltuk Buğra Arıcı, at about 4:30am on the fateful day had an argument with the accused on the grounds that they had improper movements. 

While under the influence of alcohol, Saltuk Buğra then tried to forcefully open the door of the apartment and then destroyed some items in the apartment before falling down the balcony.

He was seriously injured in the fall and taken to the hospital for treatment. 

Police say they will examine camera images and carry out forensic tests to determine what happened.