A family’s legacy, built over decades and worth over a million pounds, has become a source of bitter division. Aysel Gencay, 72, recently lost a grueling legal battle against her brother, Dogan Halil, 74, over the inheritance of their mother, Dervishe Halill.
Dervishe, who immigrated to London from Cyprus in 1952, amassed a considerable fortune before her death in 2021 at the age of 94. For years, she had indicated her intention to divide her £1.1 million estate equally among her children.
However, in a stunning reversal, Dervishe’s final will bequeathed everything to Dogan, completely excluding Aysel and another sibling. This decision sparked a lawsuit, with Aysel alleging her brother had manipulated their mother, poisoning her mind and influencing her to change her wishes.
The heart of the dispute centered around a series of letters. In 2015, Aysel received a handwritten note from her mother, a stark warning that she would be cut out of the will unless she reconciled with Dogan and demonstrated “love and respect.” The letter accused Aysel and another brother of shameful behavior towards Dogan.
Three years later, Dervishe formalized the threat, disinheriting Aysel and her brother in her final will, stating that nothing had changed since the earlier letter. Aysel argued that these letters weren’t her mother’s true sentiments, but rather the product of her brother’s undue influence.
Aysel passionately claimed her brother had “worked on” their mother, eroding her judgment and coercing her into signing over the entire fortune. She insisted the letters’ tone and language mirrored Dogan’s own communication style.
Her legal team argued that Dervishe’s consistent history of equitable distribution, rooted in her cultural and religious background, made the final will an anomaly. They emphasized that the sudden change was completely out of character.
Aysel testified that she maintained a close relationship with her mother, traveling from her home in Turkey multiple times a year. She expressed shock and disbelief that her mother would intentionally disinherit her, going against all family expectations.
However, the court heard evidence that Dervishe had met with her solicitor independently and appeared mentally competent, clearly understanding her actions. She even stated that her decision stemmed from Aysel and her brother’s lack of visits and apparent disinterest in her well-being.
The judge ultimately sided with Dogan, dismissing Aysel’s claims and validating the 2018 will. He found Aysel had become “fixated” on proving her brother’s dishonesty, and described Dogan as a “dutiful son” who had diligently cared for his mother.
The judge firmly rejected Aysel’s accusations of fraud, stating the letters were clear in their message and that her approach was fundamentally flawed. He concluded there was no evidence of dishonesty on Dogan’s part, bringing the contentious legal battle to a close.
The ruling means Dogan Halil will inherit his mother’s entire estate, while Aysel Gencay will receive nothing, a devastating outcome in a family fractured by inheritance and accusations of manipulation.
