Mourad Nazarian, who is a citizen of Turkey and is charged with the brutal murder of 85-year-old Armenian resident of Istanbul’s Samatia District Maritsa Kucuk, has declared that he is being assaulted in prison.

Ermenihaber.am writes that, according to hurhaber.com, the accused Nazarian and the parties’ attorneys attended the trial held at the Criminal Court of Istanbul. Attorney Eren Kesin reported that the accused Nazarian had described how police officers dressed in civilian clothes had pressured him in the courtroom, demanding that he confess the crime. The attorney of the accused, Jafer Gul mentioned that the real culprits are in liberty.

The accused, against whom the court has demanded a life sentencing under a strict regime, said his cellmates have been assaulting and threatening him for more than two years.

“I’ve been raped and sexually assaulted several times. The fact that I’m Armenian has also had an impact. I’ve addressed the administration, but my appeal hasn’t been processed,” Mourad Nazarian complained.

The court ruled that the state prosecutor’s office of Istanbul had to start an investigation into the statements of the accused on the assaults, but rejected the attorney’s petition to isolate Nazarian. The trial was postponed to give the attorney time to justify the demand.