A Turkish court on Thursday gave life sentences to 151 people including senior military officers in one of the biggest trials over the 2016 failed bid to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A further 23 individuals were given customary life sentences, the agency said, while 27 suspects received prison sentences of up to 20 years. The court also handed down an aggravated life sentence for “violating the constitution” to Colonel Ali Yazici, Erdogan’s former military aide, Anadolu reported. The judge ordered the case of 13 fugitives including Gulen to be separated from the main coup ringleaders’ trial. The failed overthrow left 248 people dead, according to the Turkish presidency, not including 24 coup-plotters killed on the night.

Source: Punch June 20, 2019 15:11 UTC