Ilknur Caliskan ‘doesn’t recall anything’ to do with violence on night she allegedly stabbed husband to death, lawyer says

A woman charged with the stabbing murder of her husband on Saturday night “doesn’t recall anything” about the violence, as they sat around a campfire with friends at Mount Disappointment.

Ilknur Caliskan and her husband Serdar were on a camping trip with three other couples when she allegedly stabbed him to death

A woman charged with the stabbing murder of her husband of 25 years “doesn’t recall anything” about the horror of that night as they sat around a campfire enjoying a weekend with friends at Mount Disappointment.

Ilknur Caliskan, 46, and her husband Serdar, 50, were on a camping trip with three other couples near Clonbinane when she allegedly stabbed him to death on Saturday night.

Their family has been left in shock over the tragedy, with the pair’s young adult children reporting that their parents were “very happy” and had returned from an overseas trip from Turkey just two weeks ago.

Lawyer Marcus Denning, speaking with permission from the couple’s family, said Mrs Caliskan was “not in a position where she understands anything about that night”.

“She doesn’t recall anything to do with any type of violence,” the principal of MK Law said.

Mr Denning said the investigation into what happened that night was “at its early stages”, but that the Caliskan’s were among friends enjoying a camping trip when the “extremely tragic event” occurred.

“What has transpired has happened in the context of people sitting around a campfire,” he said.

Mr Denning said the Caliskan’s son and daughter, who live with the couple in their family home in Craigieburn, had reported that their parents had been “in a very loving relationship for 25 years”.

Ms Caliskan and Serdar had been married for 25 years.

“It’s an unusual case with no evidence of intention to commit homicide, no motive, and no evidence of prior violence,” said Mr Denning, who confirmed it was Mrs Caliskan’s first time before the court, with no history of family violence either perpetuated by her or against her.

“It’s just a horrible event,” he said.

“Her immediate family have said they love their mother, they will stand by her and they will help as much as they can to get her the treatment she needs.”

Mrs Caliskan has been remanded in custody and has been booked in for a forensic psychiatric assessment at the end of the month.

“We’re hoping that will illuminate the public, the family and the courts to the status of her mental health,” Mr Denning said.

Her brother Joseph said: “My sister and brother-in-law loved each other unconditionally, what has happened is an extremely tragic event.”

“We are mourning the loss of Serdar but also supporting my sister Ilknur unconditionally.”

Mrs Caliskan sobbed in the dock of Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Monday as her loved ones looked on from the front row, wiping away their own tears.

Lawyer Gabrielle Yozefovich, appearing for Mrs Caliskan, asked if she could be seen by a custody nurse to assist with her malfunctioning hearing aids.

“I’m advised the battery had died and they’re no longer working,” Ms Yozefovich said, noting that her client didn’t need to see the nurse for anything else, and was not taking any medication.

Magistrate Peter Mithen told Mrs Caliskan that he appreciated “you may not be able to hear me”, but remanded her in custody, with her next court appearance listed in December.

She is expected to apply for bail at a later date.

After she was removed from the dock, a number of loved ones walked from the courtroom.

A young woman, wiping tears from her eyes, was led away with the assistance of two young men.

Emergency services were called to a vehicle in remote bush on Spur Rd near Clonbinane, north of Melbourne, at 11.30pm on Saturday.

There, they found Mr Caliskan suffering a stab wound.

He died at the scene.

Mrs Caliskan was arrested at the scene and charged with murder on Sunday afternoon.

She will return to court for a committal mention on December 19.