Turkish Policeman's Trial for Protester Death Resumes Monday

The trial of a Turkish policeman accused of shooting dead a demonstrator in Ankara during anti-government protests will resume Monday, with the victim's family calling for mass rallies to demand justice.

The policeman had appeared on September 23 before the court for "exceeding legitimate self-defense" for shooting 26-year-old Ethemer Sarisuluk in the head during a protest in June.

In a video widely broadcast on the Internet, the victim was seen suddenly collapsing before the helmeted police officer, who then fled the scene.

The officer, who faces imprisonment if convicted, claims that he acted in self-defense.

He was released after the first hearing and the trial was delayed after a fight broke out between defense lawyers and plaintiffs.

The accused had attended that hearing wearing a wig and a fake mustache so as not to be identified. Pending the court's ruling, the police force has transferred him to the city of Eskisehir, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of the capital Ankara.

Ahead of Monday's hearing, Sarisuluk's family has called on "revolutionary forces, artistes, democratic institutions and unions" to demonstrate in a demand for "fair justice".

A wave of anti-government protests swept across Turkey in June, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets to demand Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's resignation. Six people were killed in the unrest spanning about three weeks.

Four other police officers are being tried separately over the death of another protester, also facing life imprisonment.