Sofia's appeal court is hearing an appeal today from Eyup Temiz, a 53-year-old Turkish citizen, against his arrest. He is charged with the murder of businessman and former MEP Slavi Binev. His lawyers want a lighter measure, while prosecutors want him kept in custody.

Binev was shot dead at his home in Sofia's Pavlovo district on 24 October. Police detained Temiz a few hours later on the Trakia motorway. On 27 October, three days after the killing, the Sofia City Court kept him in custody, saying the evidence gave grounds to believe he was involved.

See also: Prosecutors ask court to jail Eyup Temiz, charged with murder of Slavi Binev

Prosecutors say Temiz fired the shot that killed Binev. They see a risk that he could go into hiding or commit another crime. They also cite two witnesses. One saw Binev fall after the shot. The other told investigators that Temiz admitted the shooting to him. The evidence and testimony were presented at the first hearing.

Police detained two other men along with Temiz. They were later released and became witnesses in the case.

Temiz's lawyers dispute the grounds for the charge and the need for the strictest measure. They say there was a serious personal and business conflict between the men, and that its circumstances need to be clarified.

Investigators found that Binev and Temiz had known each other for years and had business contacts. Since the first days after the killing, they have been checking a theory that the two had unsettled financial dealings.

The court is not ruling on guilt today. It is weighing whether there is enough evidence to reasonably suppose that Temiz committed the crime, and whether there is a real risk that he could go into hiding or commit another offence.

After a period of silence, Slavi Binev's son issued a message. In it he writes that Temiz was a family friend and called his father his brother.