I wish I had died, says Turkish coup suspect general

Former four-star general Akın Öztürk has denied any responsibility for events at the Akıncı Air Base, considered the control center of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, saying the allegations are "unacceptable for his honor." 

"I wish I had died in one of the operations [during the coup attempt] so I would not face such allegations," Öztürk told the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court on Aug. 4, the fourth day of the trial into events at the base. 

"To be tried on accusations of being a traitor and of being related to the treacherous coup attempt is the biggest punishment that can be given to me," he said, noting that he has been a pilot for 46 years. 

A former General of the Air Forces, Öztürk is also a primary suspect in the case trying over 200 soldiers on events at Turkey's General Staff Headquarters on the night of the coup attempt. 

Along with generals Mehmet Terzi and Mehmet Partigöç and 34 others, Öztürk appeared in the dock in May for leading the "Peace in the Nation Council," the leading body of the failed coup.
 
On the fourth day of the trial on events at the Akıncı base in which 486 suspects are being tried, Öztürk denied any responsibility for commanding the coup plot and of having any involvement with the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ). 

"Unlike what was reported in the media, I did not try to escape. I was not in contact with Mehmet Partigöç. I did not participate in the Peace in the Nation Council. I did not have sympathy for religious organizations," he said.

Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar and other force commanders were taken to the Akıncı Air Base on the night of the coup and were held captive there, where warplanes took off to bomb the Turkish Parliament and other key...