DEFENDANTS IN ISTANBUL CHURCH SHOOTING GO ON TRIAL

Karaova and Ozalp were charged with opening fire and making threats during a service at Istanbul's Kumkapý Meryam Ana Church to mark the 40th day following the death of Dink.

ISTANBUL - A Turkish court began hearing a case against two men who allegedly raided a church and opened fire during a service to commemorate slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

The prosecution has asked for up to nine years jail terms for Volkan Karaova and Yilmaz Can Ozalp, the two men accused of the incident.

The defendants denied the charges and said that they sheltered in church from a pimp armed with knives. They said that there were bargaining for Russian women and feared being attacked and soughtshelter in the church.

When reminded that they admitted that they went there to murder Armenian Patriarch Mutafyan in statements previously given to police, both men said that they had lost their memories.

The court ruled that the patriarch of the Armenian community should attend the next hearing.