Police completes investigation into murder of Nigerian student, Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede, trial to begin on May, 29

Investigation into the murder of a Nigerian university student, Kennedy Dede, has been completed as hearing into the case to begin on May, 29.

The murder case of Nigerian student, Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede who was kidnapped from his apartment in Kali Land District of Famagusta by a gang of seven Turkish Cypriot students in January 2018 and was severely beaten to death was completed at a Famagusta court.

The Judge of the Gazimağusa Criminal Court, Umut İnan stated on Thursday, May, 9 that, 206 statements presented to him and 13 witnesses he had heard, showed that there was sufficient reason to refer the case to the Heavy Penal Court which will be holding a session in Famagusta, and the case will be held on 29 May 2019..

The Prosecutor told the court that reports from Turkey on an autopsy carried out on the victim showed that there was no evidence that he was electrocuted. 

He told the court that a 17-year-old witness who witnessed the incident took the police to the site where he was murdered. 

Another witness noted that he heard heard what was said in the lake where the victim was murdered.

The prosecutor closed the case after presenting 206 statements and 13 witnesses. He told the court that he could be presenting what he has gathered so far to the court during trial.

He told the court to transfer the case to the Criminal court for trial.

Lawyers to the accused, Nidai Şanlı (28), Zekeriya Kurucu (22), Ozan Körkurt (18), Onur Körkurt (21) and Simge Dağdur (18), who have been in custody for more than a year, denied the charges against them.

The judge referred the case to the Famagusta High Criminal Court, which will be hearing on 29 May 2019.

Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede, 28 an Architecture student at the Eastern Mediterranean University in Magusa was kidnapped by 7 gang members on January, 29 from his resident in Famagusta and taken to the Çanakkale lake in the outskirt of the city where he was seriously beaten and killed.

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

Police investigation later revealed that Kennedy was murdered over 1000TL loan.

During the investigation, police said they gathered over 190 statements and testimonies, retrieved deleted messages and screened 142 phone conversations.

For months, the case has been on hold as forensic evidence on the murder were being expected from Turkey.