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After he was transferred to a high-security prison, Arduç allegedly tried to commit suicide in his cell, cutting his wrists with tile pieces he took from the sink. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment and put under supervision to prevent any further attempts.
In his defense, Arduç blamed his past for the murder. He claimed he was raped twice and started harboring "hatred for everyone." "I did what I did because I hated people. I threw cats and dogs in front of moving trains. I stabbed Dinçer Akçevre in 2005 for no reason and wanted to kill him," he said, referring to his attack targeting a teenager that ended with the latter's injury and landed Arduç in jail.
He said he wanted to kill "anyone he came across" the day he stabbed Özdemir and actually targeted another person but did not get the opportunity to kill him. He claimed he was mentally unstable and suffered from a "split personality."
"I have a desire to kill. I don't regret it. If you let me go, I will commit crimes again. I want you to get me treated (for my mental problems)," he told the court during a previous session.
The court rejected Arduç's insanity plea after a panel of experts consisting of three doctors found no mental health problems and said the defendant displayed a stable state of mind.
During the sentencing hearing, Arduç alleged that the doctors forged the report on his mental health and said he wanted his psychological evaluation to be repeated.
Refusing to answer the Özdemir family's lawyer, Arduç in his closing words asked the judge where he could apply for an appeal to the sentence, implying his intent to do so.
Domestic violence and the murder of women by husbands, partners and relatives have long been a thorn in Turkey's side. Thanks to broader media coverage in recent years, the issue is now more visible than ever.