Konomi Family writes to President

30/09/2011 00:00

The relatives of Judge Skerdilajd Konomi, who was executed in the center
of Vlore, addressed an open letter to the Albanian President, Bamir
Topi, the Minister of Justice, Eduard Halimi, and the Vice Chairman of
the High Council of Justice, Kreshnik Spahiu. In this letter they
express their concern for their own lives, while the authors are still
at large and the property issue remains unsolved.

“Our greatest fear is that now we are about to start a trial, this Monday, at October 3rd. Without wanting to insinuate anything, we ask you to use your influence for having a calm and regular process, in full accordance with the law. Our family wants not only the protection of our members, but also that of the judge panel, against possible pressures”, says the letter.

The relatives of Judge Konomi want to find the authors of the crime and the finalization of the property ownership procedures, as a way for easing the pain for the great loss, and for the state to give a good example of functionality.

Despite the terrible crime and the threat that stands over the property ownership case, the Konomi family is determined to follow every legal means for their rights, regardless of every criminal act that aims to put obstacles to justice.

Skerdilajd Konomi, judge of the Vlore Court of First Degree was killed today after an explosive blew up in his car, while he was driving through the city center.

The 33-year-old judge was married, father of two children, 4 and 1 year old. He was going to work with his vehicle and the explosion took place while he was driving, without any other vehicles near him at that moment. The explosion has shocked the passerby citizens who saw the car still moving after the explosion. Some of them rushed to open the destroyed doors.

Spahiu: Konomi’s murder, a clear message

The vice Chairman of the High Council of Justice declared for Top Channel’s program “Top Story” that the murder of Judge Skerdilajd Konomi was a clear message that the executors wanted to transmit.

He emphasized that Konomi was killed for his qualities as a judge, and he also denounced the impunity of justice members.

Spahiu emphasized that there are many crimes in Albania for which everyone knows who the author is, but no one mentions it. For this, Spahiu blames the state mechanism.

“Even if there have been personal circumstances, Konomi was killed for his qualities as a judge. I don’t remember any similar mafia crime. Even in 1997, when all prisons were open, no prisoner committed a mafia crime of such proportions against the prosecutors that had sent him behind bars. We cannot allow Albania to end up at the same conditions of Palermo of 50 years ago. The way he was executed was a clear signal. Konomi was one of the best judges and most honest. The Albanian judicial system, besides the corrupted, has also many honest and good people. And Skerdilajd was one of them”, he declared.

“The message of the murder was not for his children. Skerdilajd traveled for 20 minutes from his house to the place where he was executed, at the center of the city. The murderer had all the time for executing him even before. But this was a clear message that he wanted to transmit”, Spahiu declared.

“The main responsibility falls on the state mechanism, the justice system and law and order. It includes all legal and political elements. We cannot remain silent. It has frequently happened that people know the name of the killer, even when he is never caught”, the HCJ Vice Chairman underlined.

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