Durrës Court remands 27-year-old accused of killing neighbor in Rrogozhinë in custody, testimony revealed

The Durrës Court on Wednesday ordered the security measure of “prison arrest” for 27-year-old Meklajd Meçaj, who is accused of fatally stabbing his neighbor, 60-year-old Rrapush Memolla.

The decision was taken after the prosecution submitted its request, which the court accepted, leaving Meçaj in custody until the end of the investigation.

The incident occurred last Saturday at around 21:50 in the Mollaj neighborhood of Rrogozhinë. According to the information, following a sudden conflict over trivial motives, Meklajd Meçaj stabbed Rrapush Memolla. As a result of the injuries he sustained, the 60-year-old died while being transported to hospital.

The accused himself was also left with a minor hand injury from a knife wound, which is suspected to have been inflicted by the victim. Police officers arrested him a few minutes after the crime.

In the courtroom, the 27-year-old appeared calm and with his hand bandaged, after being injured during the clash with the victim.

Before the court, Meçaj stated that he had not intended to kill the 60-year-old and claimed that he had been stabbed first. He said he had stopped his car near his home and had been provoked with full beams. According to him, the victim had had a conflict with his cousin.

Asked by the judge whether he had had any personal clash with Rrapush Memolla, the young man denied it.

“No, I personally, with that person, but my cousin has had conflicts. Not with me, nothing with me, I had never even spoken to him. In that incident it was me and the victim. He struck me first and I defended myself. I did not want to kill him. I feel sorry too, I am not a murderer,” the 27-year-old said.

Meanwhile, it appears that Meçaj had previously been convicted in Germany.