The macabre murder of Liridona Ademaj on November 29, 2023, an event that shocked the entire Albanian public, has received the first blow from justice. The Basic Court in Pristina, under the direction of Judge Fatima Dermaku, has declared the perpetrators of this organized crime guilty. The court confirmed that Naim Murseli, the victim’s husband, was the “architect” of the murder of the mother of his two children. He was sentenced to life in prison for planning and organizing the murder. The same goes for Granit Plava, the executor of the crime. While the collaborator Kushtrim Kokalla has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
In an interview for the show “Në Radio” with Andri Xhahun on Radio Tirana, security expert in Kosovo, Bedri Elezi, considered this a decisive step for Kosovo justice. “This is the second decision after the case of Marigona Osmani, where life imprisonment is given. It is a brave judgment and much awaited by the Kosovar public and the whole of Albania”, said Elezi.
According to him, these decisions serve as a barrier against the degradation of public safety. “These are clear messages that there will be zero tolerance. The courts must be tough to teach a lesson to people who deal with serious crimes.”
Elezi pointed out that, although the decision is to be welcomed, it remains to be seen how the evidence is listed in the reasoning part, since Granit Plava has denied that he was the one who pulled the trigger, although he accepted Mursel’s order.
Expert Elezi also analyzed the psychological profile of Naim Murseli, describing it as the most interesting and creepy case seen so far. “He ordered the murder, while he himself participated in it. During all the sessions he tried to smear Liridona and her family, and turn into a victim. His participation in the funeral and consolation shows a criminal so cold that it reminds of the popular expression: ‘They kill you at night, and cry during the day'”.
Due to the dangerousness and sensitivity of the case, Murseli is expected to serve his sentence in a high-security prison under strict surveillance measures, also to prevent any possible suicide attempts.
For the Ademaj family, this decision does not bring back Liridona, but offers a kind of peace of mind. Leonard Ademaj, the victim’s brother, who has become a symbol of the fight for justice, declared that this decision goes to Liridona and her children. “It has eased our pain a little. It should be a lesson to all those who try to commit such a crime.”
Bedri Elezi praised the figure of Leonardi, emphasizing that “the weak point of Albanians has always been the sister” and that his commitment shows the importance of the family’s cooperation with the justice bodies.
Despite the maximum penalty, the expert calls for the state to focus on prevention. The case of Marigona Osmani, where the author had 100 previous criminal offenses, and the recent murders within the family in Kosovo, prove that institutions must react at the first signs of violence. According to Elez, there should be closer cooperation between the Police-Prosecution-Court, media campaigns and education in educational institutions.
