Tuncel and Türkan Nalbantoğlu, who were attacked at their South London home this summer
THE TRIAL into three people alleged to have burgled the house of a prominent Cypriot businessman began this week in south London.
Junior Miller, 36, and 23-year-old Reece Williams are accused of attacking Tuncel and Türkan Nalbantoğlu at their home four months ago, while Zahid Sait is accused of ordering the attack.
Bromley Magistrates Court heard that the doorbell of the Petts Wood home belonging to the Nalbantoğlu couple was rung at around 5am on Monday 9 June this year and that Mr Nalbantoğlu was attacked the moment he opened the door.
The attackers are alleged to have then moved upstairs where they bound his wife, Türkan Nalbantoğlu, and stole nearly £400,000 in money and jewellery.
The court heard that CCTV evidence showed the two suspects returning to North London in their Vauxhall Astra shortly after the incident. A button understood to have fallen off a jacket during the scuffle was proven through DNA testing to belong to Junior Miller.
Prosecutors claim the attack was ordered by a Turkish Cypriot man named Nahit Zahit Sayid, a distant relative of Mr Nalbantoğlu’s who once worked with him.
Police said telephone records showed frequent contacted between Mr Sayid and the Williams-Miller duo, and that CCTV footage showed them visiting his home.
Mr Sayid, who attended proceedings at Bromley Magistrates Court by video link, denied the charges, claiming he had not seen Mr Nalbantoğlu since he left his business.
Mr Sayid was not granted bail and will remain in custody pending the trial.
