The Basic Court in Peja has decided to reopen the trial in the case against Halil, Kastriot and Kreshnik Mehmetaj, who are accused of the 2021 triple murder in Gllogjan.
The decision was made during Friday’s hearing, at which the verdict had been expected to be announced.
According to the indictment, the three defendants are accused of planning and carrying out the attack together, allegedly motivated by revenge.
Lawyer for the victims’ family, Arianit Koci, said the court had been expected to deliver its verdict but instead decided to reopen the proceedings to examine additional evidence.
“Today we expected the verdict. However, the court assessed that one more piece of evidence needed to be examined, so it reopened the trial. So far, the presiding judge has managed the proceedings very well. As the representative of the victims’ family, I am satisfied and I believe that after the next hearing a decision will be made and the accused will be convicted,” Koci said.
Asked whether he knew what evidence had prompted the court to reopen the case, Koci said it was a video recording.
“The court explained its decision today. It concerns a video and the prosecutor’s closing statement. In any case, we will examine it and this process will also be concluded,” Koci said.
According to the indictment, the target of the attack was the late bus driver Gani Gjokaj. Prosecutors allege that the Mehmetaj family blamed him for the suicide of their daughter, Heroina Mehmetaj, and that this was the motive behind the crime.
The case file states that Halil Mehmetaj had vowed revenge against Gjokaj and placed his wristwatch in his daughter’s coffin during her funeral as a symbol of that vow.
According to the indictment, the defendants had previously surveyed the area where the attack took place, choosing a location without security cameras and away from residential houses. Prosecutors allege they ambushed a bus traveling on the Gjakovë–Gllogjan route, killing three people.
The prosecution claims that Kastriot Mehmetaj, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, walked to the scene. As the bus approached, he allegedly stepped into the road pretending to be intoxicated, forcing the driver to slow down or stop. Once the bus slowed, he allegedly opened fire, killing driver Gani Gjokaj. Two 17-year-old students, L.H. and G.M., were also killed, while F.T. was seriously injured.
The indictment further alleges that after the attack, Kastriot Mehmetaj fled toward the village of Shaptej, where Kreshnik Mehmetaj was waiting in a car. Prosecutors claim the weapon used in the crime was destroyed after they returned home.
Halil Mehmetaj is also accused of inciting Kastriot and Kreshnik Mehmetaj between June 14, 2020, and November 26, 2021, to kill Gani Gjokaj by repeatedly blaming him for the suicide of his daughter, Heroina Mehmetaj.
