The Muğla 2nd High Criminal Court began reading a 30-page verdict after the defendants made their final statements.
Former Staff Lt. Col. Hüseyin Yılmaz was acquitted, according to the initial part of the ruling.
Further details of the verdict were expected to be announced as the presiding judge continued reading the decision.
Sönmezateş refuses final statement
Gökhan Şahin Sönmezateş, identified by prosecutors as the leader of the team accused of attempting to assassinate Erdoğan, declined to make a final statement.
“I decline to deliver a final statement,” Sönmezateş told the court.
Former aide-de-camp defers statement
Ali Yazıcı, Erdoğan’s former chief military aide-de-camp, also refused to speak when prompted by the judge.
“I will deliver my final statement in the main trial in Ankara. I will not speak at this time,” Yazıcı said.
The Muğla trial centered on the raid on Erdoğan’s hotel in the resort district of Marmaris during the coup attempt. Erdoğan had left the hotel before the raid took place.
Two police officers were killed during the attack.
Ankara blames the coup attempt on the Gülen movement, a transnational civic initiative inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, and designates the movement as a terrorist organization. The movement denies involvement in the coup or any terrorist activity.
