TRABZON - The first hearing in the case of a 16-year-old teenager, who is accused of killing Andrea Santaro, Italian Roman Catholic priest of the Santa Maria Church in the northern city of Trabzon, finished on Monday.
The High Criminal Court in Trabzon decided to keep the suspect in prison, and apply media blackout since the suspect is under 18.
Later, the hearing was adjourned to a further date.
Andrea Santaro, 60, was shot dead on February 5th as he prayed in his church in Trabzon where he was the parish priest for a small Christian community.
The suspect, who has only been identified by his initials O.A., was arrested on February 7th, 2006. He used his right to remain silent, and refuse to make any statement. A hand-gun was found in his father's office, and ballistic examinations revealed that it was the weapon used in the murder.
O.A. is accused of premeditated murder, possession of an unlicensed gun and deliberately threatening public safety.