Murder accused 'trained by Turkish Army to use guns'

A Turkish barber accused of murdering his estranged partner in front of their baby son told gardaí he was trained to shoot in the Turkish army but not trained in the use of knives, a court has heard.

Hadim Kedik (aged 33), with an address at 10, Connolly Street, Clonakilty, Co Cork, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Rose Patterson (aged 30), between April 11 and 12, last year.

Kedik, who came to Ireland from Turkey to work in A Cut Above barbershop in Clonakilty in 2002, has admitted inflicting Ms Patterson’s injuries but says he never planned to kill her.

Today, the jury continued watching video interviews with Kedik, taken by gardaí after the killing.

The court has heard Kedik spent time in the Turkish Army completing compulsory service which is required by the Turkish government.

Kedik is asked by gardaí whether he was trained to kill people or trained to use a knife in the army.

He tells them, through an interpreter, he was trained to shoot but not to kill and was not trained to use knives.

Gardaí also ask him in the videos if he was trained in terrorism.

Kedik said he fought on the Northern boarder with Iraq.

Ms Patterson was found in Kedik’s flat on April 12, 2007 dead against the door of his apartment.

Kedik, who had cut his throat and wrists, was bleeding and laying face down on the floor their baby son asleep nearby.

Evidence has been given Ms Patterson was wearing Kedik’s jersey and her black bra had been removed.

“Were you trying to hide what you had done to Rose?” gardaí ask during the interview.

“Absolutely not,” Kedik replies.

“Was it because there was too much blood, you could not?” Kedik is asked.

“No I also have blood. I only want to say this I didn’t make any plans to kill Rose, I told you everything,” Kedik says.

Yesterday the court heard Kedik had written two letters, the night before he allegedly murdered Ms Patterson, detailing his thoughts of killing her and then himself.

When shown the letters by gardaí during the interview Kedik says he wrote them when he was drunk and never planned to kill the mother of his child.

The jury of eight men and four women heard Kedik told gardaí: “I didn’t plan to kill her I was drunk that's why I wrote it.”

One letter was addressed to his friend Romazan who he arrived in Ireland with in 2002.

Kedik translates the letter for gardaí and in it he asks Romazan not to criticise him for the things he has not done.

“I only thought about good things, but it does not happen,” it says. “My thoughts were also to kill (my son) but always I watched him …he’s a clever boy… I can’t do it.”

He goes on to say: “I will only kill Rose and then myself. He is a clever boy… the only thing I want is to tell him that he is Turkish.”

Kedik also translates a second letter written to an address in Turkey that, Kedik says, he also wrote on the Tuesday night.

It says: “Sorry for upsetting you, I can always upset you.”

It goes on to say, “I loved Rose but neither what she does or says represents me or my family and neither can she give anything to my child.”

“He is a clever boy… he is needed to our people…. That’s why I can’t kill him… I can only write this,” it says.

He tells his family he is always with them.

“I also have lots of thoughts and dreams but it didn’t happen…”

“There is nothing to tell more. I can’t carry some things anymore and this is my problem, this is my life and I am ending it,” it said.

Kedik admits he wrote the letters the night before Ms Patterson arrived for his court ordered access visit with his son.

“I wrote them when I was drunk and anyway I didn’t make any plan even if I had plans I could not kill the mother of my son,” Kedik told gardaí.

Gardai put it to Kedik the killing happened about 2pm when witnesses, including Romazan who was working in the barbershop downstairs, said they heard arguing.

“I believe not long after Rose arrived in your flat you killed her, within the first hour to hour and a half,” Gardai asked.

“I don’t know that time,” Kedik said.

Mr Blaise O’Carroll, SC is appearing for Kedik.

Mr John O’Kelly SC appears for the DPP.

The trial before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy in the Central Criminal Court at Dublin is continuing.