Arnhem court sentences man to 18 years for murder and disappearance of partner

On Wednesday, the court in Arnhem sentenced 60-year-old Lutfi K. from Zevenaar to 18 years in prison for killing his partner and disposing of her body. The woman, Yildiz Kayali, has been missing since December 29, 2023.

The court determined that K. killed his 42-year-old partner and subsequently disposed of her body. Yildiz’s body has still not been recovered. The court observed that while the precise cause of death could not be established, it was proven that violence was involved. Investigators discovered the victim’s DNA in bloodstains in the car’s trunk and on decorative cushions in the living room.

K. is refusing to provide any information about the burial site or the body’s location.“Her children have endured immense and lasting pain and sorrow. For 22 months, they have lived with the loss of their mother, still uncertain about where her body is,” the court stated.

Police carried out thorough investigations in the Netherlands and abroad, finding no signs of natural death, an accident, or suicide. Voluntary disappearance was also excluded, as the woman had asked her boss for extra hours at work the morning of her disappearance. The court ruled that the man had written and sent his wife’s “farewell messages” to himself and their children.

He was taken into custody in February 2024, and at the beginning of this month, prosecutors had recommended a 20-year prison term.