The uncle of Elvis Shkëmbi, who killed Judge Astrit Kalaja in the courtroom, requested today at the Court of Appeals that the measure of "prison arrest" against him be replaced with another measure.
Gjon Shkambi, suspected of being an instigator and of having knowledge of his nephew's plans, declares that he had no knowledge of Elvis Shkambi's actions. As an argument for changing the measure, he has presented two medical records – of his wife, who according to the defense is in serious condition, and his own. He has also reiterated his regret for the serious crime.
After his arrest, Shkambi was remanded in custody, but he avoided recourse to the Supreme Court and appealed to the Court of Appeal. Three previous requests for a change of measure were rejected as unfounded in law and evidence.
Meanwhile, the perpetrator of the murder, Elvis Shkambi, has not filed any objection to the arrest measure. In his confession to the police, he admitted that the crime occurred after a 30-year property dispute and in a fit of rage, injuring two other people. The prosecution suspects that the murder was planned, as Shkambi entered the Court of Appeals hall with a gun.
The investigation is still ongoing before the case is sent to trial. Gjon Shkëmbi's request for a change of measure is expected to be reviewed this Tuesday at 09:45. Earlier, court employee Banush Koxhaj, suspected of abuse of office, had also left the cell after failing to perform a proper check with a detector, enabling the perpetrator to enter armed.
