VERDICT FOR KOSOVO ALBANIAN FOR VENDETTA MURDER BECOMES VALID
Czech News Agency (CTK) - July 5, 2006, Wednesday

Prague, July 5 (CTK) - The 12-year verdict imposed on fugitive Kosovo Albanian Shukri Hoti, who shot dead his compatriot in Prague in vendetta nine years ago, has become valid since the perpetrator's defence lawyer did not appeal the verdict, first-instance senate head Petr Novak told CTK today. He said that the murdered Hilmi Xaja, owner of Prague pizzeria San Remo, probably also murdered before he was killed.

The blood feud between the two family clans, Hoti and Xaja, involved four murders at least. It started in Kosovo in mid-1996 when a member of the Xaja family jumped the queue of tractor drivers waiting for sand. A Hoti protested, but was later beaten up by the Xajas. A series of murders followed in Kosovo, Germany, Switzerland and Prague. In August 1997, Shukri Hoti, 32, opened fire at Hilmi Xaja, 36, from a moving car in the centre of Prague and drove away. Shukri Hoti is also suspected of having killed Hilmi Xaja's borther in Kosovo in May 1997. The two families became reconciled in Kosovo in May 1998. The ceremony was attended by 500 people and was referred to in the local press. Hilmi Xaja was prosecuted in Prague for unauthorised possession of arms. According to speculations, he might have been involved in drug-trafficking as well. Hoti faced up to 15 years in prison for the murder.

Copyright 2006 Financial Times Information
Global News Wire - Europe Intelligence Wire
Copyright 2006 CTK Czech News Agency Source: Financial Times Information Limited

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