Turkish filmmaker Yilmaz Güney, considered a mouthpiece for the common man, was virtually unknown outside of Turkey until after 1981. His highly politicized films about the effects of government upon Turkish people were so controversial that to even write about him, let alone view his films or speak of him was forbidden by the government. As a young man Güney studied law and economics at Ankara and Istanbul universities; he then began a screenwriting apprenticeship with Atif Yilmaz. Soon after, he began acting in films and became the most famous actor in Turkey. At his peak, Güney, known as "Cirkin Kral," or "the Ugly King" for his rugged looks, was appearing in up to 20 films per year. Soon after the 1960 political reform in Turkey he was imprisoned for a year and a half for publishing a "communist" novel. By the mid '60s he had become an active filmmaker involved with the Turkish studio system, Yesilcam. Contrary to the typical melodramas and war films sanctioned by the state, Güney began to make films about the daily problems faced by common people. In 1968, he founded his own production company, Güney Filmcilik where he continued making films such as Umut/Hope (197 to inspire his people. Just before finishing Endise and beginning preproduction on Zavallilar in 1972, he was arrested for protecting anarchist students. While imprisoned, his assistant, Serif Goren finished the former film, thus setting up a strange but effective partnership where the imprisoned Güney would write the screenplays, and Goren would direct them. In 1974, Güney was granted amnesty and released. He was later re-imprisoned for shooting a judge. Again he wrote screenplays for Goren to direct until 1981 when he escaped from prison and fled to France where his autobiographical screenplay--directed by Goren--Yol won the coveted Palme d'Or at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival. In 1983, he began directing again. With help from the French government, Güney made his final film, Le Mur, a chilling chronicle of imprisoned children. ~ (from the Movie Guide)

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/festivals/05/36/istanbul2005.html

He was known as The Ugly King to the Turkish movie goers of the time. Did he not kill that judge and flee from the prison afterwards, I would respect him more. I do have this thing about people terminating the lives of others whatever the cause may be. I also detest those who did not see anything wrong in awarding a Palm d'Or to a fugitive murderer.

Whatever cause he had, he had to defend it in a civilized manner.

Did he get what he deserved, was there a court proceeding?
And what about these famous film makers:Ugur Yücel (Yazi Tura) and Semih Kaplanoglu

Yes he went through the court proceedings normally and was sentenced to 19 years of imprisonment. He was given permission to spend a holiday with his family in 1981 and he fled abroad.

Had there been no reductions in his sentence, he might have faced a life imprisonment for killing the judge.

It is funny some French, German sources refer to the murder as shooting as if the bullet did not hit anyone...

If I remember correctly, he escaped because end of his sentence, there were more courts waiting for him. And he thought he wont be released at all.
About the shooting, yes he did kill the prosecuter. He was that kind of man. He would not be silent when the guy asked his wife from him in front of everybody.
He did refuse the suggestions of covering it up.

He was a great script writer and a director.
And the movie -Yol- was a great movie.
It was very well deserved the award in 1982.

He was (still is) my hero btw.

please tell me more about those other Turkish film makers: Ugur Yücel and Semih Kaplanoglu