Fourth Retrial Over Murder in Central Pristina: Ahmeti and Vllasaliu Sentenced to 17 Years Each

Arlind Ahmeti and Agron Vllasaliu have each been sentenced to 17 years in prison in the fourth retrial over the murder of N.S., which occurred in central Pristina in November 2017. In the third retrial, the Basic Court in Pristina had sentenced them to 16 years in prison each.

The decision was announced on Tuesday by the trial panel comprising Judge Ilir Foniqi and members Fatime Dermaku and Ertan Sejfulla, “Betimi për Drejtësi” reports.

Judge Foniqi announced that Ahmeti and Vllasaliu were found guilty of the criminal offense of “aggravated murder committed jointly with eventual intent,” for which each was sentenced to 15 years in prison. For the offense of “unauthorized possession of weapons,” they were each sentenced to two and a half years in prison, while the aggregate sentence for each was set at 17 years’ imprisonment.

The two defendants’ detention on remand has been extended.

Those present at the sentencing hearing included attorney Driton Musliu, Vllasaliu’s defense counsel; attorney Asdren Hoxha, Ahmeti’s defense counsel; and the injured party, Shemsie Aliu-Sahiti. The two defendants followed the proceedings from prison via video link.

The injured party was instructed to pursue her claim through regular civil proceedings.

The parties that disagree with the judgment may file an appeal within 30 days of receiving the written decision.

The case’s judicial history began with the Basic Court in Pristina’s decision of April 16, 2019. After reclassifying the criminal offense, the court found Arlind Ahmeti guilty of incitement to aggravated murder and imposed an aggregate sentence of 17 years in prison. At the time, Agron Vllasaliu was at large.

In November 2019, the Court of Appeals decided to remand the case to the first-instance court for a new trial, finding that the judgment of April 16, 2019, was contrary to legal provisions.

The Basic Court in Pristina issued another guilty verdict on December 13, 2022. Agron Vllasaliu and Arlind Ahmeti were each sentenced at that time to 21 years in prison for jointly committing the aggravated murder of the late N.S. in Pristina in 2017.

Following appeals by attorney Nexhmedin Sejdiu, representing the injured parties; Arlind Ahmeti’s defense attorneys, Asdren Hoxha and Fitim Malokaj; and Agron Vllasaliu’s defense attorney, Florent Latifaj, the Court of Appeals overturned the Basic Court in Pristina’s judgment on March 23, 2023. The case was again remanded to the first-instance court for retrial.

On October 11, 2024, the Basic Court reclassified the criminal offense as “causing general danger” and sentenced Ahmeti and Vllasaliu to 16 years in prison each. However, the Court of Appeals again remanded the case for retrial.

In the third retrial, on October 20, 2025, the two defendants were again given aggregate sentences of 16 years in prison each. The Basic Court reclassified the offense from “aggravated murder” to “causing general danger” and sentenced each of them to 12 years in prison for that offense. For “unauthorized possession of weapons,” each received a sentence of four years and six months in prison.

This decision was also overturned by the Court of Appeals on April 17, 2026. Granting the appeal filed by the Basic Prosecution Office in Pristina, the Court of Appeals remanded the case to the first-instance court for retrial.

The indictment filed on July 13, 2021, states that on November 24, 2017, Agron Vllasaliu, acting on the basis of a prior agreement with defendant Arlind Ahmeti, took the life of N.S. and endangered the lives of Behar Sahiti, Lumbardh Kukaj, Freskim Farizi, R.K. and Mërgim Kqiku.