Lawyer: Man used 20 gallons of gasoline in ex-wife killing

A Lindenhurst man used 20 gallons of gasoline to set his house on fire after stabbing his ex-wife to death before unsuccessfully attempting to take his own life last month at a Babylon beach, a Suffolk prosecutor said Thursday.

Muhammet Karadag, 50, had argued with his ex-wife, Gulcin, 49, on Aug. 29 before he killed her in the North Erie Avenue house they continued to share after their divorce last year, Assistant District Attorney Nancy Clifford said at Karadag's arraignment in Suffolk County Court.

"The defendant was angry that she was done with him and was now moving on with her life," Clifford told State Supreme Court Justice William Condon. "The defendant told the police he was insulted and hurt."

Karadag, a native of Turkey, pleaded not guilty through his attorney to a grand jury indictment charging him with second-degree murder and third-degree arson. If convicted of murder, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Condon ordered Karadag held without bail until his next court appearance Oct. 13.

Clifford said Karadag gave police a four-page written confession and told police where to find the knife used to kill his former spouse.

Karadag's attorney, Daniel Russo of East Quogue, questioned the validity of the statement to police, saying his client has limited command of English.

"Mr. Karadag is a Turkish-speaking person," Russo said. "His English is very poor."

Clifford said Karadag struck his ex-wife's head with a liquor bottle as she slept, then climbed on top of her and choked her before stabbing her with a knife.

He then went to a gas station and bought 20 gallons of gas, the prosecutor said. After returning home, he wrapped Gulcin's body in a carpet and placed the corpse in his sport utility vehicle, Clifford said. He then spread gasoline throughout the house and set it on fire, she said.

"The house exploded," she said.

Police later found Muhammet Karadag unconscious in his Chevrolet Tahoe at Sore Thumb Beach in Babylon. Karadag apparently had tried to overdose on prescription drugs, police said.

Gulcin Karadag's body was discovered in the back of the sport utility vehicle, police said.