The court panel issued harsh sentences, assigning 34 life sentences for the deaths of children and 44 for other cases of death. The punishment was not mitigated. Among those convicted who received life sentences, in addition to Ergül, are representatives of the hotel administration, as well as high-ranking officials, including the deputy mayor of Bolu and the deputy head of the regional fire service.
Previously, the prosecution sought 22.5 years of imprisonment for Ergül's wife and daughters, who were part of the hotel's management, but they ultimately also received life sentences.
After the verdict was announced, two defendants who had been free until that moment were detained.
The charges included intentional murder, including of minors and individuals unable to defend themselves, as well as intentional infliction of serious harm with aggravating circumstances.
During the trial, Halit Ergül stated that he did not make changes to the hotel project that could have increased the likelihood of a fire and that he does not know all the employees, so he cannot be held responsible for their actions.
The lawyers of the convicted expressed their dissatisfaction with the verdict and intend to seek its revision.
The fire at the Grand Kartal hotel began on the night of January 21 of this year in the restaurant area at an altitude of 2200 meters. At the time of the fire, there were 238 guests in the hotel. The staff began evacuation as soon as the fire became visible. Some people tried to escape by tying sheets together and descending from the 12th floor. Firefighters arrived at the scene within 40-45 minutes, but the rapid spread of the fire, caused by the wooden structure of the building, led to tragic consequences: 78 people died, and 133 were injured. A day of mourning was declared in the country on January 22.
