Husband who ‘pushed pregnant wife to her death after posing for a selfie with her on cliff’ returned for ‘tribute’ photo months later

• Hakan Aysal, 40, allegedly threw his wife Semra Aysal off cliff in Mugla, Turkey
• Police released an Instagram post he shared two years later from the same spot
• Aysal wrote: ‘A place that was once my paradise no longer has sun’
• Prosecutors say he lavished himself with holidays after claiming £40k insurance 

A husband accused of pushing his pregnant wife to her death after posing for a selfie with her from a cliff returned for a ‘tribute’ photo months later, police have said. 

Prosecutors claim Hakan Aysal, 40, took out insurance shortly before he killed his wife Semra Aysal, 32, in the Butterfly Valley, in their native Turkey, in June 2018.

Police yesterday revealed chilling footage showing her final moments as Aysal allegedly lured her to the cliff edge to kill her for the £40,000 payout.

Investigators probing his social media have since found he revisited the spot and posted an Instagram snap in June 2020 with the caption: ‘A place that was once my paradise no longer has sun.’

Aysal allegedly lavished himself with luxurious holidays around Turkey and stayed in top hotels overseas after cashing in on his wife’s death.  

Two years after his wife’s death Hakan Aysal, 40, shared this post on Instagram close to the spot where his wife died, writing a caption which said: ‘A place that was once my paradise no longer has sun’

Hakan Aysal, 40, posed with his heavily pregnant wife Semra Aysal, 32, for a romantic photo on top of a cliff moments before he allegedly threw her to her death so he could claim life insurance money

Prosecutors claim Semra Aysal, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was pushed off the 1,000ft cliff. She died instantly.  

The couple had been taking pictures together on the cliff before the incident. 

Video shows them walking along a dangerously steep cliff face that day.

In the clip, Aysal holds his wife’s hand as they climb over rocks to get a better view towards the Aegean Sea hundreds of feet below.

Minutes later it is claimed he pushed her off the cliff.

The tourist who filmed the clip claimed he had seen Aysal acting strangely. 

In the indictment prepared for the crime of ‘deliberate murder’ against the husband, it states that he ‘planned the murder of his wife by first taking out a personal accident insurance on her behalf with a guarantee of 400,000 Turkish Lira (£40,865) and where the only beneficiary was himself’.

Prosecutors claimed that the only reason they sat on top of the cliff for three hours was so that he could make sure no one was around. 

They allege that as soon as Aysal realised they were alone, he deliberately killed her by pushing her off the cliff.

The indictment also noted that Aysal had claimed the insurance payment a short while later, but it was declined when news of the investigation was unveiled.

The Fethiye High Criminal Court has ruled that he be remanded in custody for premeditated murder.

In a video interview, the court heard from the victim’s brother Naim Yolcu who said: ‘When we went to the Forensic Medicine Institute to get the body, Hakan was sitting in the car. My family and I were destroyed, but Hakan did not even appear sad.’

In the clip, Aysal holds his wife’s hand as they climb over rocks to get a better view towards the Aegean Sea hundreds of feet below

He added: ‘My sister was always against taking out loans. However, after she died, we learned that she had three loans taken by Hakan on behalf of my sister. 

‘Also, Semra had a fear of heights, what extreme sport is she going to be doing when she is scared of heights?’

Asked about the questionable insurance premiums, Aysal said: ‘I have been interested in extreme sports since 2014; parachute, bungee jumping, rafting. That is why I had life insurance before I got married.’

Aysal was also asked about the article in the accident personal insurance stating that he would be the heir if Semra died. 

Prosecutors claimed that the only reason they sat on top of the cliff for three hours was so that he could make sure no one was around. Pictured Aysal (left) with Semra (right)

Aysal said: ‘I did not examine the policy much. The banker arranged the paperwork. I just brought it to my wife to get it signed. I was not aware that there was such an article.’

He has denied being responsible for her death, saying: ‘After taking a photo, my wife put the phone in her bag. Later she asked me to give her the phone. 

‘I got up and then heard my wife scream behind me when I walked a few steps away to get the phone from her bag. When I turned back, she was not there. I did not push my wife.’

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