The ‘Strongman of Lushnjë’ main suspect in Albi Bashaliu’s murder, victim’s cousin ‘freezes’ in session, court intervenes: Don’t go ‘uh uh’, say who killed him

Today’s session for Laert Haxhiu, sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of Zamir Latifi and Jurgen Hoxha, lasted for hours, while further evidence was revealed in today’s trial.

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

Among the witnesses who appeared in the courtroom today to testify, besides Leonard Bashaliu, who is Albi Bashaliu’s brother, was Sami Bashaliu, the cousin of the two brothers mentioned, journalist Elton QYno reports.

The latter arrived to give his testimony at the Special Court, as he was one of the main witnesses to the event 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 bar where the victim (his cousin), after drinking his morning coffee, went outside and was then shot dead by Artan Tafani and Lulzim Spahia, who ambushed him in the street.

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

As the session for his cousin’s killer was taking place, after the prosecutor was unable to formulate questions about the event, the court intervened asking Sami Bashaliu to avoid getting stuck in his expression and to tell them who killed his cousin.

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

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

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

Sami Bashaliu: A couple of days, two or three, before New Year’s. Some time ago…

The court intervenes with questions: Please tell us details…

Sami Bashaliu: There was a nice car, I went out and looked around but didn’t see anything. I went back inside and lit the stove to warm up, whoever came for coffee. The late Bashaliu, he came in to drink coffee and the moment he walked out of the bar, someone spoke to him and Bashaliu turned his head. We heard the gunshot. The guy who shot was tall and thin, but he had his head covered with a mask. He shot him. The guys who were inside the bar got scared and ran away. There was one person who shot, there were two of them but one stayed in the car.

The court: Please tell us more, what do 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 gestured at me with their hand “…go inside, go inside…”. I didn’t make a sound. He took Bashaliu’s keys, his phone, left them there, didn’t touch them. The other one set fire to the car with gasoline and they left. You know, the state did its job…

The court: Don’t go “uh uh” like that, who killed these people? And the other one, did we find out who killed Leonard Bashaliu?

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

Sami Bashaliu: The night before, and the next morning the incident happened. It was maybe 7 a.m.

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

Sami Bashaliu: No, why would I see him off? It was around 11 at night, something like that.

Behar Dibra: Do you know the people the victim was with?

Sami Bashaliu: He was with people from our clan, we’re a big clan.

Behar Dibra: After the incident, did this person, Henriko Xhahysa, still come to your bar?

Sami Bashaliu: No.

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

Sami Bashaliu: Yes, I went.

Av Detar Hysi: How are your relations today?

Sami Bashaliu: Very good.

The court: Regarding the physical description of the two people, do you remember any distinctive features? Do you remember these people?

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

The court: Any particular feature?

Sami Bashaliu: No, I didn’t see.

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

Behar Dibra: If you had the chance to see the tall and thin one as you described him, would you be able to identify him? Would you say this one shot a gun?

Sami Bashaliu: I swear I can’t tell for sure.