Bail refused in Leeds fans murder case
A court today rejected bail for a Turkish soccer fan awaiting a re-trial in the fatal stabbings of two British Leeds soccer fans in Istanbul.
A new forensic report is being prepared on a knife covered with the victims’ blood to determine if the weapon delivered the fatal blows.
Defence lawyer Ozkan Ozmen asked the court to release Ali Umit Demir on bail, but the court turned down the request, the Anatolia news agency said.
The court adjourned the case until August 17.
Demir was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2002 for stabbing Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight in April 2000.
The stabbing happened during street clashes in Istanbul before Leeds match against Galatasaray in a UEFA Cup semi-final.
An appeals court overturned that double-murder conviction, saying Demir’s knife had the blood of Speight but not necessarily that of Loftus.
An initial forensic report presented to court last month showed that the knife did contain the blood of both victims, as well as a third unidentified person.
However, the court ordered a second report to determine whether this particular knife delivered the fatal blows.
