Six of 12 suspects arrested for murder of Nigerian student in north Cyprus claim they are innocent, lawyer accused police of beating them

Six of the 12 people who were arrested and brought to a court in Lefkosa on Monday in connection with the murder of Nigerian student, Augustine Walshak who was found dead in a forest area in Tashkent, Haspolat on Friday last week said they were innocent of the crime. 

The 12 accused who were arrested and detained by the police in separate operations on Sunday were taken to court on Monday. 

The suspects were arrested after camera footage of the area were examined.

Investigation officer told the court that, three of the accused gave voluntary testimony about their involvement before, during and after the incident.

Lawyer representing some of the accused, Ramadan Sanivar protested in court that the statement of some of the accused were not taken appropriately adding that they were innocent and beaten during questioning.

The investigation officer rejected the allegations by the lawyer who called for a doctor to examine the accused if it was true that they were beaten by the police.

Ramadan noted that suspects, 7,8,9,10,11 and 12 did not know anything about the crime they were arrested for and that they were not involved in the crime.

The judge who acknowledge the seriousness of the crime ordered that all suspects be remanded in prison for three days while investigation continue.