The Istanbul court handed the hotel’s owner a prison sentence of 13 years and four months. The owner of the pest control company responsible for treating the property and his son were each sentenced to 18 years in prison, while one of the company’s employees received a sentence of 12 years and two months.

Two hotel reception employees who had also faced charges were acquitted.

Family Died During Holiday

The tragedy occurred in November 2025 when a family of four from Hamburg—parents and their two young children—became seriously ill while on holiday in Turkey. They were admitted to hospital suffering from nausea and vomiting but later died.

Authorities initially suspected food poisoning. However, forensic investigations later concluded that the deaths were caused by exposure to insecticides used during pest control treatment at the hotel.

Court Rejects Murder Charges

The court convicted the defendants of causing death through conscious negligence, a legal finding under Turkish law that applies when individuals knowingly disregard a significant risk that results in fatalities.

Lawyers representing the victims’ family had argued that the defendants should face murder convictions, while defence attorneys sought acquittals. The court ultimately rejected both requests, imposing lengthy prison sentences on four of the accused.