Nizamettin Gursu, the boyfriend of a woman who tragically fell to her death from a cliff during a marriage proposal, has been arrested in Turkey. The incident occurred in Canakkale, a city in northwestern Turkey, on July 6. The woman, 39-year-old Yesim Demir, fell approximately 100 feet.
Gursu had reported to the authorities that Demir had accepted his proposal. He claimed that he had gone to his car to fetch food and drinks to celebrate when he heard a scream. Upon returning to the site, he found that Demir had fallen over the cliff edge.
However, the police investigation revealed inconsistencies in Gursu’s account. The engagement ring that Gursu claimed to have given Demir was found still in its box in his pocket. Furthermore, the police found shattered glasses and a broken music speaker at the site, suggesting a possible physical altercation.
Demir’s family also provided information that cast doubt on Gursu’s version of events. They told authorities that Demir had been planning to break up with Gursu and would not have accepted his proposal. They also revealed that Demir suffered from panic attacks and would not have willingly been near the edge of a cliff.
Gursu’s arrest followed a complaint filed by Demir’s family. At the time of Demir’s death, Gursu had portrayed himself as a grieving fiancé, stating that they had chosen the cliffside location for its romantic appeal. He claimed that Demir had lost her balance and fallen after they had consumed some alcohol.
Demir initially survived the fall but later succumbed to her injuries. Gursu is currently in custody, awaiting trial. The issue of femicide, the gender-based killing of women, has been a growing concern in Turkey. According to the Monument Counter, a digital memorial for women killed by violence, at least 380 women in Turkey have been killed by men this year, up from 383 last year.