Keith Di Palma, 57, described the fatal incident in a Turkish court where his wife, Lisa Di Palma, 61, was killed while crossing a road in Fethiye on August 6 of the previous year. The couple had been on holiday to celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary.
Appearing before four Turkish judges, Di Palma recounted how a speeding vehicle "came from nowhere" and struck his wife "full on," narrowly missing him. He described how Lisa was thrown "almost five metres" into the road. Di Palma attempted to stop the car by jumping in front of it and punching the windscreen, but the vehicle continued to move. He then placed his hand under the car in a further effort to halt its progress.
Lisa Di Palma, a mother of two and grandmother of four from Hornchurch, east London, was taken to a local hospital and later transferred to Muğla University Hospital. She sustained severe injuries including pelvic and hip fractures, shoulder and skull fractures, twelve broken ribs, a minor lung bleed, a slight brain bleed, signs of kidney failure, and a burn to her leg. Doctors planned an operation, but following complications including a bowel blockage and cardiac arrest, she died a week after the accident.
The accused, Turkish farmer Senay Koparal, 55, denies charges of "intentional killing" and "intentional killing to avoid capture." Koparal, who has been held in prison since August, admitted to drinking before driving. A police report indicated his blood alcohol level was 2.14 milligrams per ml, more than four times the Turkish legal limit of 0.5 milligrams.
Koparal's lawyer argued that his client's extreme intoxication meant he could not have formed the intent to kill. However, prosecutor Onur Kamali pointed to the absence of tire marks on the road as evidence that Koparal did not attempt to slow down or stop his vehicle sufficiently. Koparal also faces a charge of using his brother's identity fraudulently at the crash scene. The next court hearing is scheduled for August 11.
In a previous inquest in March, Di Palma had shared similar accounts of the incident. He described trying to pull his wife from under the car with the help of bystanders. He also mentioned that the driver initially refused to exit the vehicle.
Lisa Di Palma was actively involved in grassroots football, having recently lost a significant amount of weight and reportedly feeling more confident than ever. Her husband described her as dedicated to supporting the football community, ensuring affordability for attendees and helping families in need. He stated, "She gave her life and soul to looking after her grandchildren and continuing with grass-roots football, getting more involved."