"I personally oppose death penalty"

Mehmet Turgut Okyay, Presiding Judge of the Court, who delivered a death sentence on PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan admitted that he was against death penalty."I personally oppose the death penalty, " Mr. Okyay told the journalists after trial. "It is neither good or easy to pronounce death verdict. However, we have to implement it if it is included in our laws. Our job is to determine whether the defendant is guilty or not," Mr. Okyay said. Mr. Okyay, who won praise from Council of Europe observers for his handling of the trial, added he was not "excited" as he read the ruling against Ocalan.The judge also warned lawyers representing families of Turkish soldiers killed in clashes with PKK to "behave themselves" when they returned from the island. "Refrain from rash actions, do not put officials in a difficult position. They are all very tired," he said.