Helyn Bennett’s mother to attend Turkey bomb blast trial

Jun 25 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

The alleged killer, known only to Mrs Holden by the name Mehmet, was arrested in April 2006 on suspicion of the murder of five people in the blast. He was also accused of belonging to the PKK terrorist organisation, also known as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, and conspiracy to commit further terrorist acts on the Turkish mainland.

The defendant is alleged to have detonated the bomb by going into a phone box and dialling the number of a mobile phone strapped to explosives in a bag under a seat near Helyn.

When the phone rang it triggered an electrical switch.

He is due in court in Izmir on Tuesday. If he pleads guilty, he may be sentenced on the same day.

Mrs Holden added: “People have asked me if this will mean closure, but it won’t.

“We’ll never get closure, but it has dragged on so long I hope we see justice done.”

She also plans to visit the explosion site to lay flowers from her family and colleagues at the University Hospital of North Durham’s canteen, where her daughter was a trainee chef and where Mrs Holden and Ms Punshon both work.

The trip is being arranged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Mrs Holden said she had been told by officials there that relatives of Tara Whelan, 17, from Waterford, Ireland, who was also killed in the blast, would be attending the trial.