An Istanbul court sentenced on Monday the assassin of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink to nearly 23 years in prison.
Samast, tried in juvenile court because he was a minor at the time of the crime, was sentenced by the court to 21 years, six months for “premeditated murder” and one year, four months for carrying an unlicensed gun.
Dink was shot three times in the head and neck outside the offices of his Agos newspaper on Jan. 19, 2007. Another court is hearing the cases against two other main suspects in the conspiracy and a handful of others accused of being linked to the plot. Scores of people have been arrested in connection with his assassination, including six gendarmerie officers. Prosecutors also questioned police officers and a former governor of Istanbul.