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Full Report
 | November 26, 1992 |
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An accused Romeo killer has told an Old Bailey jury of ¨ his shock when his lover dropped dead during sex. The prosecution claim Oktay Oczelebi deliberately ¨ strangled Feriha Apa to death, but the handsome 28-year-old said ¨ he had no idea his hands were around her neck. 'When we finished sex she was lying flat,' the Turk ¨ said through an interpreter. 'I talked to her and there was no reaction. I thought ¨ she had just relaxed. 'I talked - no answer. I talked - no answer. Then I ¨ was in a panic. I took her pulse. There was nothing. 'I cannot explain the right words to express my feel ¨ ings. I wanted to escape.' 'Were you aware you were strangling her in the course ¨ of having sex with her?' asked his counsel, Mr Ronald Thwaites, ¨ QC. 'No' said Oczelebi. 'Did you deliberately press any part of her with the ¨ intention of hurting her?' 'Definitely not,' he replied. The court has heard Oczelebi had a string of lovers in ¨ this country and he revealed he also has a wife in France. Miss Apa, 48, was his former landlady who also fell ¨ for his charms when he moved into her home in Palmerston Road, ¨ Wood Green, with his girlfriend. Oczelebi told how he had sex with the middle-aged ¨ nurse at least twice without his girlfriend knowing. When he spilt up from the girlfriend Oczelebi went to ¨ France, where he also has nationality, to complete his national ¨ service. He was exempted because of the national service he had ¨ completed in Turkey and returned to this country. Soon he was at the home of another former girlfriend, ¨ Miss Candy Martin, who lent him cash before she left the country. Oczelebi then turned to another old flame, Susan ¨ Williams, and when she could not put him up he returned to Miss ¨ Apa's flat in Palmerston Road. When Oczelebi called in the early hours she came to the ¨ door in her nightdress and 'gave me a warm welcome,' he told the ¨ court. He complained of a headache and Miss Apa gave him ¨ pain-killers and massaged his forehead as they lay on the bed. 'Then we were kissing each other. Then we were making love. She was not in pain,' he said. 'Were you trying to hurt her in any way?' asked Mr ¨ Thwaites. 'No,' said Oczelebi Counsel asked why he had not called the police when ¨ Miss Apa dropped dead in front of him. 'I thought it happens here like it happens in Turkey,' ¨ said the accused murderer. 'They give you electric shock, they beat you to get ¨ information out of you. 'I didn't think I had done anything wrong. But I ¨ didn't have any money and I needed a ticket to get out of the ¨ country. 'I looked for money in her room. I didn't find any. I ¨ am sad and embarrassed to say I took her pendant from her dead ¨ body. 'I was very upset when I was taking it.' Cross-examined by Mr David Calvert-Smith, Oczelebi ¨ said he had never strangled anyone during sex before. Miss Apa's body was found two days later but Oczelebi ¨ fled to the continent and was not tracked down for 18 months The prosecution claim he may have strangled Miss Apa ¨ with a telephone cord as well as his bare hands. Oczelebi denies murdering her between September 8 and 9 1990. The trial continues. ENDS | |