The Not-So-Speedy Trial: Turkish Trial Ends After 28 Years

We often struggle with speedy trials in the United States, arguing over whether the Sixth Amendment can be honored in 160 days or less. The standard in Turkey appears a bit more flexible where they appear to measure speed in years rather than days. A panel of judges have found 39 people guilty in a trial that began on March 15, 1982 — roughly 28 years ago.

The 39 belated convicts were part of 1,223 defendants in a case that was brought in the wake of the 1980 military coup. The other defendants had their charges dropped due to the passage of time.

All of the defendants were alleged members of an extreme left-wing organisation, Dev-Sol and the convicted defendants were given life sentences. Thirteen of the 39 have move to their final judgment — which came sooner than their Turkish judgment.

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