The Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) has taken note of a press conference held today, during which three individuals spoke on behalf of a suspect currently being prosecuted for manslaughter and attempted manslaughter.
During this press conference, several statements were made regarding the progress of the criminal case and the legal representation of the suspect. The Public Prosecutor’s Office considers it important to correct the statements made and to provide the correct information.
The suspect is being prosecuted for a traffic accident that occurred on January 5, 2026, on the Renaissance Bridge, in which two people lost their lives.
From the moment of detention, the suspect had a lawyer of their own choosing (lawyer no. 1). Later, another lawyer (lawyer no. 2) was added to the defense team, followed subsequently by a third lawyer (lawyer no. 3). All three lawyers chosen by the suspect are registered with the Joint Court of Justice, as prescribed by law.
Request for a non-registered lawyer The suspect recently requested permission for another lawyer (lawyer no. 4), who is not registered with the Joint Court of Justice, to act under the responsibility of the lawyer who most recently joined the case (lawyer no. 3). It is up to the Joint Court of Justice to decide on these types of requests, and this was scheduled for June 16, 2026.
Withdrawal of defense However, a day prior, on June 15, 2026, the first two lawyers (lawyers no. 1 and 2) informed the Public Prosecutor’s Office by letter that they had already withdrawn from the case on June 12, 2026. This was followed by the withdrawal of the third lawyer (lawyer no. 3), who informed the Public Prosecutor’s Office in writing on June 17, 2026, that he was immediately distancing himself from the case.
Due to this series of consecutive withdrawals by all the lawyers, the suspect was left without legal counsel at that moment. The Public Prosecutor’s Office immediately notified the Dean of the Bar Association about this undesirable situation.
Decision of the Joint Court of Justice On June 22, 2026, the Joint Court of Justice rejected the suspect’s request to allow a non-registered lawyer (lawyer no. 4). This decision was based on the fact that the Joint Court of Justice does not consider this to be a “particular” case as intended by the legislator when drafting the law. According to the Joint Court of Justice, there are sufficient experienced and competent registered lawyers available who can defend this suspect.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office emphasizes that the suspect has the right to proper legal representation and that this right must be guaranteed within the framework of the applicable law. The Public Prosecutor’s Office continues to work to ensure that the criminal proceedings are conducted meticulously, and with respect for the rights of everyone involved in the case as well as the community as a whole.