Supreme Court reviews Jeton Vllasaliu’s challenge to life sentence for Bedri Rexhepi’s murder

A hearing is being held at the Supreme Court on Thursday to review a request for the protection of legality in the case in which Jeton and Nexhat Vllasaliu are accused of murdering businessman Bedri Rexhepi.

The incident for which they are facing charges took place in 2021, and the alleged motive was financial gain, reports “Betimi për Drejtësi.”

Appearing before the court, Jeton Vllasaliu said he stood by his lawyer’s position and disagreed with the first-instance verdict, under which he had been sentenced to life imprisonment.

In a verdict dated May 28, 2025, the Basic Court in Pristina found Jeton and Nexhat Vllasaliu guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment for the murder of Bedri Rexhepi. The decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeals.

According to the indictment filed by the Basic Prosecution in Pristina, the two defendants are charged with “Aggravated murder,” as defined in Article 173, paragraphs 1.6 and 1.4, in conjunction with Article 31 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo (CCRK).

The prosecution alleges that, from January 9, 2021, to April 8, 2021, Jeton and Nexhat Vllasaliu, acting jointly and pursuant to a prior agreement, planned to take the life of the injured party, Bedri Rexhepi, with the aim of obtaining financial gain.

They have also been charged with “Desecration of graves or corpses,” under Article 413, paragraph 2, in conjunction with Article 31 of the CCRK.