Galatasaray accused seek amnesty

Galatasaray and Leeds fans clash in Instanbul

By Chris Morris in Istanbul

Lawyers representing 20 Turkish men accused of involvement in the deaths of two Leeds United fans in Istanbul last year have asked a court to consider whether their clients should be eligible for an amnesty.

Five men are accused of murdering Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight in a street fight on the night before Leeds United's UEFA Cup semi-final against Galatasaray last April.

Fifteen other men are accused of a variety of other offences.

The Turkish parliament approved a partial amnesty bill last month which freed thousands of people in jail or on trial.

Legal challenges

It only applies to crimes committed before 23 April 1999 but there have been a number of legal challenges against that date.

The lawyers for the accused in this case also want their objections to be considered by Turkey's constitutional court.

The judge has to decide whether to allow the application but if the amnesty were to be extended, most of the men on trial for offences related to the deaths of the two Leeds fans would be freed immediately.

Even those charged with murder might face only very short sentences.