Ansonia-Milford State’s Attorney Kevin D. Lawlor announced today that his office is investigating the events relating to the murder/suicide that occurred in the City of West Haven on January 17, 2010, which resulted in the murder of Shengyl Rasim and the death of her husband Selami Ozdemir.

“This office has been assisting the West Haven Police Department since this tragic incident occurred on Sunday morning,”  State's Attorney Lawlor said. “Furthermore, this office was prosecuting Mr. Ozdemir for a domestic violence arrest which occurred in September of 2009. In coordination with Chief Smullen and the West Haven Police Department, we are reviewing the sequence of events that have transpired since the initial arrest last September up to and including the tragic events of January 17, 2010.”

“I have concerns regarding some portions of this case based on the investigation to date,” State's Attorney Lawlor said. “There also may be ongoing collateral law enforcement investigations which have not yet been concluded.This Office will be providing assistance in those investigations. My primary concern at this time is to determine exactly what happened in this situation and, to the extent possible, attempt to assure that a tragedy such as this does not happen again,” State's Attorney Lawlor said.

This office intends to complete a thorough examination of the events that led to this tragedy and will, as soon as possible, announce the findings.Until that time, this office will have no further comment.

News media inquiries may be submitted via the Ansonia-Milford State’s Attorney’s Office by following this link or by telephone at (203) 874-3361.