“The Strongman of Lushnjë” Main Suspect in Albi Bashaliu’s Murder, Victim’s Cousin “Freezes” in Court, Judge Intervenes: “Stop Hemming and Hawing, Tell Us Who Killed Him”

Today’s session against Laert Haxhiu, sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of Zamir Latifi and Jurgen Hoxha, lasted for hours, and further testimony emerged from today’s hearing.

Known as “the strongman of Lushnjë”, Laert Haxhiu is accused of the following criminal offenses: “Premeditated murders”, “Attempted murders”, “Providing conditions to commit murder”, “Destruction of property with explosives”, “Unlicensed possession of weapons” and “Armed robbery”.

Among the witnesses who appeared in the courtroom today to testify, in addition to Leonard Bashaliu, who is the brother of Albi Bashaliu, was Sami Bashaliu, the cousin of the duo in question, reports journalist Elton Qyno.

The latter arrived to give his testimony at the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime, as he was one of the main witnesses to the events of December 27, 2021, when Laert Haxhiu, in collaboration with Enriko Xhahysa, Artan Tafani and Lulzim Spahia, organized the murder of Albi Bashaliu.

Sami Bashaliu is the owner of the cafe where the victim (his cousin) had his morning coffee, then went outside and was shot dead by Artan Tafani and Lulzim Spahia, who ambushed him on the road.

The elimination of Albi Bashaliu was entirely witnessed by Sami Bashaliu, so the prosecution representative Behar Dibra had summoned him to hear his testimony before the Special Court.

As the session for his cousin’s killer was underway, when the prosecutor was unable to formulate questions about the event, the court intervened, asking Sami Bashaliu to avoid freezing up while speaking and to tell who killed his cousin.

Continuing with his testimony about his cousin’s murder, Sami revealed that the perpetrators wore COVID masks. Asked about the physical appearance of the perpetrators, Bashaliu stressed that one was tall and the other short.

The full testimony of the witness, Sami Bashaliu, cousin of the victim Albi Bashaliu, secured by Elton Qyno:

Behar Dibra: Has there ever been a murder near your cafe?

Sami Bashaliu: Two or three days before New Year’s. Some time ago…

The court intervenes with a question: Please tell us details…

Sami Bashaliu: There was a nice car, I went out and looked around but saw nothing. I went inside, lit the stove, to warm up whoever came for coffee. The late Bashaliu came in for coffee and the moment he left the cafe, someone spoke to him and Bashaliu turned his head. The sound of a gun was heard. That guy who shot was a tall, thin one, but he had his head covered with a mask. He shot him. The guys in the cafe got scared and ran. It was one person who shot, they were two but one stayed in the car.

Court: Please tell us more what you remember…

Sami Bashaliu: He came out, spoke to Bashaliu and shot him. The one who shot stayed there, Bashaliu fell to the ground. I saw this, but they motioned to me with their hand “go inside, go inside…”. I didn’t make a sound. He took Bashaliu’s keys, phone, left them there, didn’t move them. The other one set the car on fire with gasoline and they left. You know, the state did its job…

Court: Don’t hem and haw like that, who killed these people? And about the other one, was it found out who killed Leonard Bashaliu?

Behar Dibra: When did the late Albi Bashaliu last visit the cafe?

Sami Bashaliu: The night before, the next day the incident happened. It was 7 o’clock maybe.

Behar Dibra: Did you see him off from the cafe?

Sami Bashaliu: No, why should I, it was 11 at night or something like that.

Behar Dibra: Did you know the persons the victim hung out with?

Sami Bashaliu: He stayed with our own clan, because we are a large clan.

Behar Dibra: After the incident, did this Henriko Xhahysa come to the cafe?

Sami Bashaliu: No.

Av Detar Hysi: Did you go to the funeral of the deceased?

Sami Bashaliu: Yes, I went.

Av Detar Hysi: And today, how are your relations?

Sami Bashaliu: Very good.

Court: Regarding the physical description of the two persons, do you remember any characteristic of theirs? Do you remember these persons?

Sami Bashaliu: They were two. The one who committed the murder was tall and thin, the other a bit shorter. They had hats and COVID masks.

Court: Any particular element?

Sami Bashaliu: No, I didn’t see.

Court: Prosecutor Behar Dibra, do you have any other questions?

Behar Dibra: If you had the chance to see, as you describe, this tall and thin one, would you be able to describe him? Would you be able to say that he fired a gun?

Sami Bashaliu: By God, I can’t determine.