Six hotel staff and pest control workers went on trial in Turkey on Tuesday, charged with causing the deaths of a family of four from Germany poisoned by insecticide while on holiday in Istanbul.
The Turkish-German Böcek family were staying at the Harbour Suites Old City hotel in Istanbul's Fatih district when they fell ill on November 12. They took a taxi to a hospital complaining of nausea and vomiting before returning to the hotel.
The following day, six-year-old Kadir Muhammet and his sister Masal, aged three, died. Their mother, Çiğdem, died on November 14, while their father, Servet, died on November 17.
Prosecutors are seeking prison terms of between two years and eight months to 22 years for causing multiple deaths through negligence against hotel owner Hakan Oğlak; the owners of DSS Pest Control, Zeki Kişi and Serkan Kişi; DSS worker Doğan Çağferoğlu; and receptionist Muhammad Moeen.
Another hotel worker, Rüştemşa Batyrov, faces between two and 15 years for the same offence. The indictment also highlights issues with the company's certification and safety precautions.
The case has raised concerns over hotel safety standards in Turkey and prompted calls for stricter oversight.