Four men have been jailed for a total of more than 45 years between them, after 32-year-old Aranit Lleshi was stabbed to death in Brislington in a knife fight over a cannabis crop.
Police declared a 'critical incident' at the time in May last year, after being called to the Bloomfield Road area. Four men were sentenced today (April 21, 2023) at Bristol Crown Court after being convicted in connection with the incident. They were:
- Brikel Palaj, 33, of Heavitree Road, Plumstead, London (convicted of murder, life with minimum 20 years)
- Radian Lika, 36, of Watkinson Court, Islington, London (convicted of murder, life with minimum 20 years )
- Nikola Palaj, 29, also of Heavitree Road (convicted of manslaughter, five years)
- Kastriot Mhillaj, 35, of no fixed abode (pleaded guilty to violent disorder, 18 weeks)
READ MORE: Brislington murder trial LIVE
Today the court heard a short statement from the family of the murder victim. His mum and dad "died inside" after the loss of their son, they said, and they hoped other people would not go through the same ordeal.
Following the hearing, Senior Investigating Officer DCI Phil Walker said: “It’s tragic a young man lost his life during this clash between two organised crime groups over a cannabis factory. Both groups were from the London area and targeted a quiet south Bristol neighbourhood to engage in wanton violence with weapons, witnessed by those who live there as well as passers-by.
"There’s often organised criminality behind the production of cannabis and we know these groups are using residential houses in streets like this in the hope they can ply their exploitative trade under the radar. It’s crucial for members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicions around drug activity in their neighbourhood to the police.
“We’d like to express our continuing sympathies to the family of the victim, who’ve been left devastated by his death, and want to reiterate our thanks to all the witnesses who provided statements and evidence in this case – their assistance has ultimately helped us bring these dangerous men to justice.”
The judge, The Honourable Mr Justice Saini, said in May last year a group came to steal a cannabis crop from another group, being grown in Bloomfield Road. He said the groups came from the Albanian community but did not know each other.
Brikel Palaj received a tip-off that the property would be vacant and he and his group brought a "cannabis stealing kit" to Bristol, he said. However, the Bristol group was waiting for them and confronted Nikola Palaj and held him before members of his group turned up.
As a result Brikel Palaj and Lika bought knives from a Bristol Sainsbury's, returned to Bloomfield Road and a substantial knife fight followed in which Aranit Lleshi suffered fatal injuries and others were also hurt.
During the trial, the jury was taken through CCTV clips of movement of defendants as they converged on Bristol leading up to the incident. Much evidential footage showed defendants in various vehicles at Avonmeads retail park before the violent clash in Bloomfield Road.
During today's sentencing hearing, Prosecutor Anna Vigars KC told the judge Mhillaj pleaded guilty to violent disorder. She said he drove a van to be used to take a cannabis crop from Bristol to London. Mhillaj parked in Bloomfield Road, before two groups clashed over the crop.
Mhillaj pleaded on the basis he was part of a group using unlawful violence. Such was the level of violence he ran off, before collecting participants in the violence later. Mhillaj has no previous convictions, the court heard.
Rossano Scarmella, defending Mhillaj, said his client had spent almost 11 months remanded in custody. He said his client could be entitled for release now having servied almost double the sentencing guideline for violent disorder.
Mrs Vigars said Brikel Palaj and Radian Lika were convicted of murder and both faced a life prison sentence. Brikel Palaj has no previous offences recorded from his native Albania, the court heard. Radian Lika had convictions in 2013 for false imprisonment and blackmail.
Both men admitted, however, being involved in previous cannabis thefts. Nikola Palaj has no offences recorded in the UK, the court heard.
Michael Ivers KC, defending Brikel Palaj, said there was no evidence his client was in the habit of carrying a knife. He said his client had bought a knife at Sainsbury's in Bristol in circumstances where he was concerned about an attack from an opposing group.
He said excessive force was used when self-defence and defence of another was an issue. Mr Ivers conceded a large sentence must be passed and a minimum jail term decided in a case that had a tragic consequence.
Ignatius Hughes KC, defending Lika, adopted Mr Ivers' submissions. Mr Hughes said Lika had always been deeply regretful and genuinely remorseful about his role that night.
He said his client arrived in the UK aged 13, was taken into care, started losing all contact with his parents, was fostered until aged 16, and from 18 he was in London and became involved in the sort of enterprise featured in the case. Mr Hughes asked for a substantial reduction in sentence, Lika having suffered very serious injury in the incident himself.
Colin Aylott, defending Nikola Palaj, said his client was not armed in the incident but he had joined the incident without the intention to cause grievous bodily harm or kill. Mr Aylott said his client lacked previous convictions and was a non-English speaker in a foreign jurisdiction.
Stella Waata, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the CPS South West Complex Casework Unit, said: “While incidents like this are rare, it shows the risk posed by organised crime groups and why we and our police partners are determined to work together to dismantle them.
“They bring untold misery to our communities, and we will robustly prosecute cases, particularly those involving weapons. I would like to thank the local community for supporting the investigation and those who came forward as witnesses.”
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