Man Found Guilty of Gruesome Kidnap, Torture, and Murder of DJ in Tottenham
The Horrific Crime
Mehmet Koray Alpergin, a beloved 43-year-old DJ, was kidnapped alongside his girlfriend, Gozde Dalbudak, as they returned from an Italian restaurant in Mayfair in October 2022. The couple was taken to a deserted wine bar near Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. There, Alpergin suffered a brutal ordeal—beaten, throttled, scalded with boiling water, stabbed, maimed, and violently assaulted. His battered body was later dumped in woodland near the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate in Loughton. Meanwhile, Dalbudak was locked in a toilet for two days before her captors released her, giving her money for a taxi.
Shocking Details from the Investigation
A post-mortem revealed a staggering 94 injuries on Alpergin’s body. Prosecutors described the killing as typical of organised crime and linked to drugs. Originally from Northern Cyprus, Alpergin was a notable figure in London’s Turkish community, owning Bizim FM, a Turkish-language radio station.
Their Audi was tracked by kidnappers who followed it from Mayfair to Enfield before the abduction.
The Trial and Convictions
Eight men were involved, arriving in two vehicles. Dylan Weatherley, 20, from Tottenham, was found guilty of manslaughter, kidnap, and false imprisonment related to Alpergin but cleared of charges tied to Dalbudak’s abduction. Bulgarian painter Isay Stoyanov, 44, also from Tottenham, was convicted of perverting the course of justice. Kyrie Mitchell-Peart, 32, pleaded guilty to kidnap and false imprisonment. All three will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on September 5.
Other Guilty Parties and Ongoing Hunt
- Last year, four more men were convicted: Tejean Kennedy (33) and Ali Kavak (26) guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment, and manslaughter.
- Samuel Owusu-Opoku (36) and Steffan Gordon (35) were found guilty of kidnap and false imprisonment.
- Kavak also admitted perverting the course of justice by helping dispose of Alpergin’s body and setting two vehicles on fire. Other accomplices admitted similar charges.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb praised Alpergin’s family for their support and confirmed two suspects remain at large, believed to have fled abroad. “It’s been a long journey for Koray’s family, and our thoughts remain with them today,” Webb said.
