A New Hampshire state trooper was justified in shooting and killing a Hollis man Monday after a routine traffic stop in Marlborough turned combative, state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte concluded yesterday.

Sasha A. Yuksel, 35, of Hollis died Monday of internal bleeding after being shot by State Trooper David Hinkell on Main Street in Marlborough.

"Yuksel had punched Hinkell repeatedly, causing a broken nose, and had attempted to gain control of Hinkell's weapons, including his taser and firearm," concluded a press release issued yesterday by the Attorney General's Office. "If Yuksel had succeeded in overpowering the trooper, pushing him into traffic, or knocking him unconscious, Hinkell clearly would have been subjected to further serious injury or death."

The report said Hinkell tried to subdue the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Yuksel with "verbal and physical persuasion," a stun gun and pepper spray.

Yuksel, who had dried blood on his knuckles when he was pulled over on Monday, had demonstrated no inclination to discontinue his assault, the report said.

Yuksel grinned and kept advancing toward Hinkell even after the trooper warned him to move back or he would shoot, the report stated.

Though Hinkell didn't know it at the time of the shooting, Yuksel was a wanted man.

The Hollis police were searching for Yuksel that morning: He was accused of beating his stepfather, Robert Fallon, 69, and seriously injuring his mother, Senka Fallon, 69, earlier in the day.

The report released by the Attorney General's Office offered a detailed account of what happened during the confrontation between Hinkell and Yuksel, which has been a source of controversy and speculation all week as few details of the investigation were made public to balance witnesses' accounts of the brawl.

It also revealed Hinkell's own account of the struggle. After the trooper was treated for serious facial injuries, including a broken nose, on Monday, he was placed on leave and has not released any statements to the public.

The morning began quietly for Hinkell, who was on routine patrol along Route 101.

Hinkell, a member of Troop C in Keene for more than three years, was traveling west in Marlborough when he heard about a hit-and-run collision in Swanzey, the report said.

A silver Pontiac traveling east on Route 101 matched the description of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run, and noticing front-end damage to the vehicle, Hinkell reversed direction and flashed his lights and siren to pull over the car.

The violence began after Yuksel was out of his car, and Hinkell asked him to put his hands on the trunk.

According to the attorney general's report, Yuksel refused, swore at Hinkell and made a move toward the trooper.

Hinkell moved away, and Yuksel punched him in the face without warning, then punched him again.

Hinkell tried to tackle him, but Yuksel didn't stop punching him, and got his hands around Hinkell's neck. Hinkell also felt Yuksel twist his gun holster.

After the string of blows to his head, Hinkell was concerned he might lose consciousness, according to the report.

Next, Hinkell turned to his Taser. He backed away from Yuksel, and tried to fire it. The Taser didn't activate, and Yuksel moved toward him.

Hinkell tried again to fire the stun gun. Nothing happened.

So Hinkell took out his pepper spray, warning Yuksel about what was coming. Yuksel was hit with the spray, but some of the spray ended up burning Hinkell's eyes too.

Yuksel walked away from the officer, and Hinkell again ordered him to stop and place his hands on the car. Yuksel didn't stop. Hinkell sprayed him again. Yuksel kept coming.

Hinkell pulled out the Taser, but for the third time, it didn't work. The pepper spray ended up being knocked to the ground, the report said. (next page »)