A Turkish court on Tuesday sentenced Yasin Hayal to life imprison for masterminding the murder of Hrant Dink in January, 2007.

The case, which had dragged on in the Turkish courts, was seen as a litmus test for the country’s judiciary and whether it would be able to independently investigate negligence by Turkish law enforcement.

In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkish authorities failed to protect Dink and ordered the government to pay compensation to his family.

The court acquitted all 19 suspects of charges related to terrorism.

The verdict deeply disappointed Dink family members and their lawyers.

Soon after the verdict was announced, hundreds of activists marched towards the Agos newspaper office where Hrant Dink was gunned down on January 19, 2007. They vowed to assemble at the spot on Thursday.

"This case is not over ... for us this case is just starting," said Dink family lawyer Fethiye Cetin, vowing to appeal the verdict and likening the trial process to a "comedy."

The prosecutor in the case says he will appeal the verdict.

Last July, gunman Ogun Samast was sentenced to almost 23 years for premeditated murder by a juvenile court.

While Samast was allegedly connected with Hayal, yesterday’s verdict suggested that the suspects had not acted as an organized gang.