A British man has been given an aggravated life sentence by a Turkish court for murdering his wife with a screwdriver in an Istanbul hotel room.
Brutal Attack Following Violent Argument
Ahmed Yasin Muse, 28 at the time, was convicted on Thursday of killing his 26-year-old wife, Ayan Mohomed Dhoba. Judges at Istanbul’s 41st Heavy Penal Court ruled the killing was deliberate and carried out with extreme brutality.
The couple, both British nationals, had travelled together from England to Turkey on 11 November 2023. They were staying at a hotel in Istanbul's Fatih district when a violent argument erupted.
Prosecutors stated Dhoba suffered multiple injuries to her throat and body. The fatal blow was delivered when Muse drove a screwdriver into her head.
Investigation and Arrest
Hotel staff became concerned after hearing disturbing sounds from the couple's room. Dhoba was found dead three days after their arrival, prompting staff to alert emergency services.
Security camera footage presented in court showed Muse leaving the hotel alone shortly after the killing. He was arrested a short time later, attempting to leave the area in a taxi while wearing a bloodstained T-shirt.
Police contacted the taxi driver and instructed him to drive to the nearest police station. The murder weapon was later recovered from the hotel bathroom, where Muse admitted he had discarded it.
Defence Dismissed by Court
During police interviews, Muse confessed to the attack. He claimed the couple had argued after his wife offered him drugs and stated he was taking medication for mental health issues.
However, the court rejected his defence of suffering from psychological problems. A forensic assessment by Turkey's 4th Specialisation Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute concluded Muse was fully criminally responsible for his actions.
Turkish authorities charged him with intentional killing of a spouse and murder committed with monstrous intent, offences carrying the most severe penalties under Turkish law.
Aftermath and Official Response
Paramedics pronounced Dhoba dead at the scene. The UK Foreign Office confirmed at the time that it had not been asked to provide consular assistance but was ready to support British nationals if required.
According to Turkish media reports, some digital material seized during the investigation will be returned, while other items will be retained by police. It is not yet known whether Muse intends to appeal his conviction.
