BULATCI GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

Emrah Bulatci has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the
2007 shooting that resulted in the death of RCMP officer Christopher
Worden in Hay River.

Bulatci was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility of parole
for 25 years.

The 25-year-old broke down and cried when the 12-member jury's verdict
was read Nov. 19 in Yellowknife Supreme Court.

"The verdict of guilty to first-degree murder allows us some solace as
to justice being served for the crime," said RCMP Chief Superintendent
Tom Middleton. "It does not, however, lessen the pain of the loss."

The jury spent 12 hours deliberating the decision.

Worden, 30, was shot four times as he chased Bulatci in Hay River on
the night of October 6, 2007. The second two shots proved fatal.
Worden, originally from Ottawa, had served in Hay River since 2005.

Bulatci's lawyers had tried to convince the jury Worden's death was
caused by the accidental firing of Bulatci's gun during a struggle
between the two men. Bulatci admitted to firing the first two shots at
Worden, but said he tried to keep the bullets low to slow the officer
down. Bulatci argued the second two shots that killed Worden were
fired accidentally, and the charge should have been manslaughter.
Worden's father, John Worden, expressed satisfaction with the sentence
at a press conference following the announcement.

"Today, justice has been served. The first-degree murder conviction
handed down by the jury is the correct one," he said. "The convicted
criminal shot our Christopher four times with only one intent: to
kill. While we are pleased with the first-degree murder verdict,
nothing can bring back our son, brother, husband and father."

Bulatci, from Alberta, testified he was in Hay River to sell cocaine.
The car he was travelling in was pulled over by Worden. Bulatci said
he ran from the officer to avoid Worden finding the illegal handgun he
was carrying.