Turkish court gives life sentences to coup plotters

A Turkish court on Wednesday handed out life sentences to 34 suspects accused of attempting to kill President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during last year’s failed coup, among other charges. The defendants each received four life sentences at the court in the southwestern city of Mugla, state-run TRT television reported. In February, the Turkish government charged 46 suspects, including former military staff members, of attempted assassination, violation of the constitution, and other offenses against the state. The suspects were accused of attacking a hotel where Erdogan was staying and attempting to overthrow the government. Erdogan had left the hotel shortly before the attack began. The court acquitted one of the defendants but did not release the status of the eight remaining suspects. More than 250 people, the majority of them civilians, died during the July 15, 2016, attack.