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Trial begins for murder of Turkish commando who stopped coup attempt

Turks are closely watching the trial of those accused of murdering special forces commando Omer Halisdemir, who was killed in the line of duty as he played a key role in stopping last summer’s coup attempt.

Turkish soldiers accused of attempting to assassinate President Tayyip Erdogan on the night of the failed July 15 coup are escorted by gendarmes as they arrive at the court in Mugla, Turkey February 21, 2017. REUTERS/Kenan Gurbuz     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTSZLBV
Turkish soldiers accused of attempting to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the night of the failed July 15 coup are escorted by gendarmes as they arrive at the court in Mugla, Turkey, Feb. 21, 2017. — REUTERS/Kenan Gurbuz

Can one person alter the course of history?

During Turkey’s coup attempt in July, Senior Master Sgt. Omer Halisdemir, a noncommissioned officer (NCO) with the Turkish military’s Special Forces Command (OKK), answered that question in the affirmative.

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