Gabonese Dina's family came to Forensic Medicine for identification; Request for a second autopsy

The lifeless body of 17-year-old Gabonese national Jeannah Danys Dinabongho Ibouanga, a university student in Karabuk, was found in Filyos Stream on 26 March. While the footage of the young girl running barefoot on the street emerged, 8 people were detained within the scope of the investigation initiated. Dursun Acar, who was detained 4 times, was arrested, 2 of the other 7 suspects were released on judicial control conditions and the other 5 suspects were released by the prosecutor's office. The body of Gabonese Dina was sent to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Yenibosna, Istanbul. The family of Dina, who lives in the Gabon Republic, arrived in Istanbul today. Dina's mother Jessica Sandra Makemba Panga, father Guy Serge Ibouanga Panga, uncle, aunt, and their lawyer Kerim Bahadir Seker came to the Forensic Medicine Institution to identify the body. The mother and father went in to see their daughter. The mother was seen wearing a black T-shirt with a picture of her daughter Dina. The family made a statement with their lawyer after leaving the forensic medicine.

“THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A SUICIDE, THIS IS A MURDER”

Stating that they sent her daughter here from Gabon for education, mother Jessica Sandra Makemba Panga said, “I came from Gabon today to receive my daughter's body. No parent deserves this. Put yourself in my shoes, she was my only daughter. After seeing my daughter's body, I am absolutely convinced that she was attacked. The wounds on my daughter's head and on her hand clearly show that she was attacked. I trust the Turkish state, this is definitely not a suicide. This is a murder, we hope that everyone who has a hand in this murder will be punished by the Turkish state in the face of justice.”

"MY DAUGHTER HAS A DEEP WOUND ON HER LEFT HAND AND FOREHEAD"

“The moment we saw our daughter, all my doubts disappeared. She has a deep wound on her left hand and forehead.  Here we are trying to get justice for my daughter Dina. We trust the Turkish state to leave no dark spot. Our daughter is seen running barefoot at night. We watched the footage. What is my daughter running from? Who is she running from? The footage of her first moments of running should be found. This investigation needs to be deepened.  Saying that my daughter fell into the water is not something that can happen. We want everyone involved in this murder to be found one by one” said Dina’s father Guy Serge Ibouanga Panga.

"IT WILL BE BETTER IF A SECOND AUTOPSY CAN BE PERFORMED"

“This is a murder that took place. We consider this as a murder of a woman. We have another girl inside who is also a victim of femicide” said the uncle. “I want the Turkish state to do absolutely everything. I trust the Turkish state. It will be better if the second autopsy can be done” added aunt of Dina.

"MOTHER LOOKED AT HER DAUGHTER'S HANDS TO RECOGNIZE HER"

The family’s lawyer Kerim Bahadır, added that the mother looked at Dina’s hands to identify the body. Bahadır said:

“On March 26th, Dina's lifeless body was found in the Filyos Stream. Unfortunately, we are faced with the story of a 17-year-old girl who was torn away from her dreams and hopes. This is a murder. We have repeatedly shouted that it is a murder since the first day, and today, after seeing her body here with the family, our conviction has become stronger. The wounds that were described to us as grazes are very deep wounds, which we assume were actually inflicted with a knife. They are quite deep in her hands. The mother looked at her daughter's hands to recognize her. Because she looked at her face and said 'is this my daughter' at first. She said 'can you show me her hands'. After looking at her hands, she faced an emotional breakdown. The process that took place for two and a half months was kept in Karabük from March 26th to April 11th. For about 1 month she was kept here and we have repeatedly stated that it was against the law because it is clearly written in the law. It is sent to the nearest forensic medicine institution. If the body cannot be preserved, it is sent to the nearest forensic medicine institution. We will really pursue justice and we are here to clarify Dina's death and to explain that it was caused by a murder, without being subjected to any pressure in any way.”

"WE WILL REQUEST A SECOND AUTOPSY"

“We will request a second autopsy. The professors of the Forensic Medicine Institute we have met with tell us that there are clear and precise indications for a second autopsy. We want to apply for a second autopsy because the first autopsy did not address certain points, did not address certain points clearly and precisely, and did not make precise and clear evaluations regarding ecchymoses and abrasions. Because in the report of the First Forensic Medicine Specialization Board, as we have already stated, it is stated that it was caused by drowning, but there is nothing about the fact that she was unconscious before he fell into the water and died. Estimations need to be finalized so that this family can follow the justice and the court after a certain point. Because their pain is still not over. We were told that the wound on his hand was a graze. And the wound on his head, we were told that he had hit the branches while jogging and so on, but clearly, logically, a corpse should turn purple, but instead of turning purple, the corpse still retains its pinkness. We think that the reason for this pinkness is that a very heavy blow was landed there” said the lawyer Bahadır adding that family’s pain is still fresh.