Two brothers, working behind the counter of a fried chicken shop, have been handed significant prison sentences for their involvement in the shocking kidnap of a popular Turkish DJ who was later murdered.
Ozcan Donmez, 25, and his brother Jemal Donmez, 22, were described by the Old Bailey as playing a 'pivotal role' in the abduction of Koray Alpergin, 43, from outside his Enfield home in November 2022. The court heard how the pair used their place of work – a chicken shop in Ponders End – to help orchestrate the sinister plot.
The Abduction
Mr. Alpergin was violently forced into a Mercedes Sprinter van after being ambushed. His assailants then drove him to an industrial unit in Hertfordshire, where he was held captive and subjected to a brutal attack before being murdered.
Prosecutors detailed how the Donmez brothers were not the masterminds but crucial facilitators. Ozcan was identified as the driver of the van used in the abduction, while Jemal was implicated in helping to procure and clean the vehicle afterwards in a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence.
Justice Served at the Old Bailey
At the Central Criminal Court, Ozcan Donmez was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after being convicted of kidnap. Jemal Donmez received a 10-year sentence for the same charge. In a separate trial, four other men were convicted of Mr. Alpergin's murder and handed life sentences with minimum terms ranging from 32 to 36 years.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC, presiding over the case, stated the brothers had provided 'substantial assistance' to the murderous gang, knowing full well the grave danger their victim was in.
The family of Koray Alpergin, a well-known figure in the Turkish community, continue to mourn their loss, a life tragically cut short by a calculated and violent crime that has sent shockwaves through North London.
