Verdict day in Turkey coup plot case involving 475 suspects

Turkish judges were poised to issue verdicts in the trial of 475 people accused of carrying out a failed military coup in 2016 from the Akıncı airbase near the capital Ankara, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The trial, which has lasted three years, is expected to be concluded on Thursday, Anadolu said. Akıncı was used as a command center during the failed putsch and F-16 fighter jets took off from the base for missions over Ankara.

Prosecutors have demanded 79 aggravated life sentences for three civilian imams who allegedly led the coup on charges of attempting to violate the constitutional order, assassinate the president and murder 77 people, according to Anadolu.

Many of the 475 suspects were serving members of the military and air force pilots.