Our weekly round up of the local news for Fethiye and the surrounding towns, resorts and villages.

Chicken Shop Shoot Out Court Case Begins

Reports at the time said:

On the afternoon of 14th July 2010 yet another scene from a gangster B movie of the 1950s became reality in downtown Fethiye.

The action took place in a take-away roast chicken shop in the middle of the afternoon, when the previous owner, Ali Şen, arrived to demand money owed to him for the purchase of the business.

The then owner, Ramazan Başyarar, and his son Hilmi, who also worked in the shop, began negotiating with Şen and were quickly joined by two men to whom Şen owed money: Bayram Büyükpabuşçu and Ismail Manav.

Şen allegedly produced a hand gun and began to shoot, and according to local reports firing a total of 16 bullets – he reloaded in the middle of all this.

By the time he fled the scene in a car, Ramazan and Hilmi were dead, and Bayram and Ismail were rushed to the State Hospital where Ismail also later died.

At midnight that night police tracked down Şen and arrested him still in possession of the illegal handgun.

He was remanded in custody.

The case finally came to the Fethiye court last Friday.

Appearing in court this week the defendant, Ali Şen, told the story of how debt lay behind the killings.

One of the victims owed money to Şen, who in turn owed money to another of the men he killed.

Şen claimed that, when he turned up at the chicken restaurant to demand his money, the father and son whom he went on to kill, both swore at him.

He admitted owning an unlicensed gun which he carried with him ‘from time to time’.

About 50 people turned up at court hoping to watch the case unfold from the public gallery.

However, the judge only allowed 6 members of the public into the court along with those who have an interest in the case.

Şen’s testimony took all day and the judge finally adjourned the case to a future date.

We’ll keep following this one!

Liquid Sunshine

After the cold snap the weekend before the weather became warmer as the week progressed.

However, it also became wetter with rain throughout most of Thursday and Saturday.

The local press took great delight in reporting that tourists were unconcerned with the rain and that they could still be seen swimming off the popular local beach at Oludeniz where the air temperature was 25 degrees centigrade, the sea 24 degrees centigrade and the rain an undisclosed temperature.

Air Games Took to the Skies Despite Variable Weather

And the wet weather and low cloud also disrupted the Oludeniz Air Fest that opened on Wednesday.

Pilots were prevented from launching because of the low cloud rain and thunder storms throughout the five day event.

But the annual event, now in its 11th year, still drew the crowds and a few minor accidents too.

Paragliding pilot Ercan Kurtman and his Indian passenger Ankur Rudra crash landed into the sea on Friday 15th October.

The pilot is reported to have said that a sudden change in the wind direction forced him to head towards the sea rather than the usual beachto enable a soft landing.

They landed smoothly just a few metres from the beach and the pilot and passenger were reported to be uninjured.

On Satuday a Turkish female paragliding student landed on a group of tourists who were sat near the beach watching the Air Fest.

No one was reported as injured. We guess the pilot had a red face and some apologising to do after that.

On Sunday Iranian solo paragliding pilot Amin Nadimi had deploy his emergency parachute when he got into difficulties.

He landed in the sea and was rescued. He was reported to have no injuries.

Lycian Way Ultra Marathon

The Lycian Way Ultra Marathon began on Monday 11th October.

Another sporting event started last week. The world famous Lycian Way walking route was the the focus for an ‘Ultra Marathon’.

Eleven participants started the ‘Ultra Marathon’ that began in Fethiye and finished at Kemer, Antalya.

The course followed the mountain tracks and roads of the Lycian Way long distance path.

The event required the runners to complete the 240km course by the 16th October.

One runner was forced to withdraw due to an injury.

Specialist medical and other support teams were on hand to keep the runners fed, watered and safe.