Hüseyin Arda Şark gets aggravated life sentence in Hiranur Nilgün Aygar case

The Adana Regional Court of Appeals 18th Criminal Chamber announced its ruling in the case over the shooting death of 16-year-old Hiranur Nilgün Aygar in a car in Mersin. The panel sentenced detained defendant Hüseyin Arda Şark, 20, to aggravated life imprisonment.

Play video: Hüseyin Arda Şark gets aggravated life sentence in Hiranur Nilgün Aygar case (Duration 0:14)

Appeal hearing

The Mersin 5th High Criminal Court had earlier given Şark a life sentence. At the appeal hearing, the public prosecutor asked that the sentence be overturned and that he instead receive aggravated life imprisonment for "intentional killing of a child or a person unable to defend themselves physically or mentally." The panel sentenced Şark to aggravated life imprisonment for that offense.

Defendants Mustafa Z., 28, and Nazmi Ç., 21, who are not in custody, received four months in prison each for "destroying, concealing or altering evidence of a crime." The panel ruled that their current status continue. The defendants joined the hearing via the SEGBİS video system.

In his defense, Şark said: "I did not kill Hiranur. I am not asking your court for acquittal either. I did not pull the trigger of the gun. I am guilty for possessing the gun and I regret it. I only want to receive the punishment I deserve." The other two defendants maintained they had no involvement. Hiranur's mother, Gülten Tan, asked that the defendants receive the heaviest sentence.

The incident

The incident took place on 31 August 2025 in Mersin's Toroslar district. Hiranur Nilgün Aygar was shot in the head with a handgun in a car and died at the hospital where she was taken. Three suspects had been arrested. After the ruling, Hiranur's father, Murat Aygar, said he would take the case to a higher court and continue seeking justice.