ALLEGED Turkish state collusion in the murder of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) worker Deniz Poyraz was exposed in a tense court hearing in Izmir that descended into violence today.

“Who are you trying to protect?” prosecutors charged as the judge postponed the trial until January 24 after a number of fiery exchanges in the courtroom.

It was alleged by lawyers for the deceased that Ms Poyraz’s suspected killer was seen taking a taxi, with a civilian police officer working in Ankara security directorate, to a hotel close to the HDP office in the western coastal city.

This was reported by the driver of the cab, who had taken Onur Gencer to the HDP office a number of times when it is believed he was staking out the building.

But despite taking a witness statement it was not fully investigated, lawyers said.

Mr Gencer is accused of killing Ms Poyraz in the HDP provincial office in Izmir in June this year. 

The building, in a central location in the city, is closely monitored by police who hold the party under constant surveillance.

At the time of the attack law enforcement officials had set up a tent outside the HDP office, which lawyers said was used like a police station.

“It is almost as if the attack was carried out under the supervision of the police,” prosecutor Turkan Aslan Agac charged.

“If Onur Gencer is sitting alone in the defendant’s chair today, it is because of a lack of political will to shed light on the background of this attack and murder,” he said, indicating state collusion.

Despite previously claiming to be acting independently, photographs showed him raising the salute of the Grey Wolves, a fascist paramilitary organisation linked to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

He was also pictured posing in military uniform in various Syrian cities including Manbij, where Turkish forces and jihadists trained by the shady Sadat defence contractors have been fighting Kurds.

Mr Gencer insisted that he carried out the attack “because I hate the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party].”

Bur lawyer Imdat Atas said that the accused “did not carry out the aggressive act alone, he did it as a counter-guerilla activity.”

He criticised authorities for failing to investigate alleged links with Sadat or jihadist groups, branding the killing of Ms Poyraz “a political murder.”

The case came a day after two people were injured in an attack on an HDP district office in Istanbul with the aim of saluting Mr Gencer ahead of the trial, Mr Atas said.

It is believed that at least 15 armed attacks have taken place against HDP offices and officials this year alone.

Two brawls took place in the courtroom after sexist and provocative remarks made by Mr Gencer, who was protected by soldiers.

“This man was trained in Manbij and is a murderer. He is from Isis. You cannot be that calm,” HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan said.

Armed police were also asked to leave the hearing, with lawyer Cahit Kirkazak saying: “A trial cannot be held under the shadow of guns.”