Six accused in the murder of police officer Muhamed Lika declared innocent

The six defendants in the murder case of Police Sergeant Muhamed Lika have pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor in the case, Ismet Rrahmani, read a part of the indictment that details the night when police officer Lika was killed.

During this hearing, lawyer Fehmije Bytyqi, who is the defense partner of the defendant Diamant Gashi, requested that Gashi's detention be replaced with house arrest or another lighter measure.

Also, the lawyer of the defendant Rilind Murati, Musa Konxheli, has requested that the detention measure against Murati be changed to another measure, as he has assessed that the material evidence submitted to the court cannot be changed, destroyed or any witness influenced.

Prosecutor Ismet Rrahmani has opposed these proposals from the lawyers.

"I oppose their proposal, as defined in paragraph 8 of the proposal for the measure of pre-trial detention. We consider that, taking into account the latest ruling regarding the extension of the measure of pre-trial detention, all the legal reasons and causes for which the measure of pre-trial detention was extended are valid," prosecutor Rrahmani stated.

The court rejected the proposals of lawyers Bytyqi and Konxheli.

"In compliance with the legal provision of Article 240, paragraph 4, the Court rejects the proposal of defense attorneys Fehmije Gashi-Bytyqi and Musa Konxheli that the detention measure of the defendants Rilind Murati and Diamant Gashi be terminated or replaced with an alternative measure with the same reasoning as in the decision to continue detention dated 08.01.2026", the Court says.

The indictment states that police officer Muhamet Lika, after finishing his work schedule, on the evening of April 1, was escorted to his apartment by the defendants, while at the entrance of his apartment to commit the crime of "Aggravated Murder", the minor Rejhan Bela entered and shot police officer Lika.

“...the defendant Haki Bela, after having stayed at his 'Aksa' bar, from there he leaves for the Police Station, and follows the victim Muhamed Lika, from the moment he leaves the Police Station and then the victim continues towards the apartment, while the defendant Haki continues towards the 'UÇK' street for 20 meters and then after 30 seconds he returns towards the victim. In the following, the defendants Shkëlqim Kuka and Edmond Lika observe the victim's journey on the road, after they had parked the 'Opel Astra' car, white in color with license plates 05-518-GH, with driver Shkëlqim Kuka and passenger Edmond Lika, near the police station and at the moment the victim passes by the car towards his apartment, the passenger Edmon Lika gets out of the car and gets into his 'Golf 2' car, blue in color, driving the same with the lights off and continuing on the one-way street, following the victim in the direction of moved, while the defendant Shkëlqim with the 'Opel Astra' car from this moment takes action and continues going near the scene of the incident, the victim continues the journey then on 'Idriz Seferi' street near the entrance of his apartment, the minor Rejhan Bela continues following the victim behind, who entered the entrance of his apartment and immediately after the victim the minor Rejhan Bela entered after him at the entrance of the apartment building and upon meeting the deceased he shoots at him with a firearm, caliber 9.19 mm, and runs back from where he had come after committing the murder, fleeing towards the 'Dukagjini' bar where he joins the defendant Rilind Murati, who had been waiting for him and together they run away through 'Mejdi Dalloshi' street. While the minor and the defendant were running, a voice is heard saying 'Bravo, run away'", states the indictment read by Rrahmani.

It is further stated that the defendant Diamant Gashi helped the minor Rejhan Bala escape after committing the murder of police officer Muhamed Lika, by sheltering him in his home, hiding material evidence, and helping him communicate with his brother, also accused in this case, Haki Bela.

The six defendants Haki Bela, Rilind Murati, Vatan Çaka, Edmond Lika, Shkëlqim Kuka and Diamant Gashi have pleaded not guilty.