Murdered Turkish DJ’s girlfriend ‘looked like a homeless beggar’ when she escaped and pleaded for help after being kidnapped

During a court hearing, it was revealed that Koray Alpergin, a well-known Turkish DJ, was experiencing heightened anxiety prior to his abduction and subsequent murder by a gang. The incident occurred on October 13th of last year, as Alpergin and his girlfriend, Gozde Dalbudak, were returning home to Enfield after dining at a high-end Italian restaurant in central London. The couple was forcibly taken to an unoccupied wine bar located near White Hart Lane, where Alpergin was subjected to a brutal attack that included physical assault, strangulation, scalding with boiling water, stabbing, and genital mutilation. Testimony from a restaurateur indicated that Dalbudak had sought assistance after being released by the kidnappers, but was initially mistaken for a homeless person due to her disheveled appearance.

According to the testimony of the jurors, the lifeless body of the DJ was discovered in a wooded area in Essex on October 15th, having been callously abandoned. Several hours later, a dogwalker stumbled upon the remains. Additionally, it was revealed that Ms. Dalbudak, aged 34, endured a distressing ordeal lasting two days, during which she was confined within a lavatory. Subsequently, she was released onto the street, approximately ten minutes away from her captors’ location. Astonishingly, despite having met the restaurant owner a few days prior, he failed to recognize her and mistakenly perceived her as a destitute individual seeking sustenance.

Ms. Dalbudak exhibited visible signs of physical trauma, including bruising around her eyes, a broken and bleeding nose, and was attired in an oversized jacket and beanie provided by her abductors.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Mr. Alpergin, upon his return from Turkey, displayed signs of anxiety and confided in a friend that he had made a regrettable statement to individuals who intended to interrogate him. Prior to his untimely demise, he exhibited a sense of unease and apprehension, which was uncharacteristic of his typically carefree demeanor.

Furthermore, it was disclosed that Mr. Alpergin was burdened with substantial debts and faced numerous claims, including a sum of £32,405 for his Audi, which had been equipped with a tracking device by his alleged assailants on September 23.

The lifeless body of the DJ was discovered in a wooded area in Essex on October 15, shortly after a dogwalker stumbled upon it. Additionally, it was revealed to the jury that Ms. Dalbudak, aged 34, had endured a distressing ordeal, spending two days confined in a lavatory before eventually being released.

According to her account, she recounted being held captive, blindfolded, and bound alongside Mr. Alpergin, although she remained unaware of the motive behind their abduction. Ms. Dalbudak informed the authorities that a man wielding a knife approached their vehicle prior to her being forcefully placed into a white van, with an individual restraining her. She further stated that she was struck twice in the face, resulting in loss of consciousness.

Upon regaining consciousness, Ms. Dalbudak found herself confined within a dimly lit structure, her vision obscured by a blindfold, and her wrists bound together. She overheard Mr. Alpergin uttering comforting words such as “My love, don’t be scared” and “sorry, my love,” before hearing commotion and her partner’s cries of pain.

Counsel Crispin Aylett KC relayed Ms. Dalbudak’s account, stating that she was subsequently confined in an unsanitary lavatory.