Susanne Geske also reiterated that she did not believe that the slaughter was plotted only by the five young men. "I want to know who put these five people up to this, to find those who are behind the curtain," she said.

In comments headlined by the Turkish press following the latest court hearing, Susanne Geske declared that she and her children who are still living in Malatya wanted to visit the alleged murderers in prison.

"We want to meet with the killers, but I am waiting for the right time. I don't want to ask them questions; I just have something to say. My children are asking, 'When will we go to them?'"

In chilling testimony of the final hours of Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske, accused killer Hamit Ceker stated before Malatya's Third Criminal Court, that during the savage attack on Zirve Publishing Company's office on April 18, he saw leading suspect Emre Gunaydin slit the throats of two of the Christians. Hamit Ceker denied that the group of young conspirators had planned to kill the two former Muslims who had converted to Christianity or their German colleague although he admitted that they had brought along guns and a lengthy section of rope, and that each of them carried a newly purchased knife, a pair of plastic gloves and an Islamic jawshan (protective prayer inscription).

Ceker confirmed under questioning that the group had performed special Muslim thanksgiving prayers together early on the morning of the murders. But he said he didn't know the meaning of that ritual nor why they did it. In answer to his lawyer's question as to whether he had in any way helped the men who were tied up on the floor, Ceker claimed he had loosened the cords tightly binding Ugur Yuksel's wrists, and even slipped a packet under his head.

Ceker's comments, which came near the close of the 10-hour hearing, brought a verbal outburst from Semse Aydin, widow of Necati Aydin. "They went there to kill our husbands, and then they say they did things to make them comfortable!" the widow cried out in the courtroom. "This is contemptible!"

The trial has been adjourned until 25 February. (Compass Direct)