Jailed for life: Albanian asylum seeker

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[h=1]Jailed for life: Albanian asylum seeker who murdered an elderly couple for 'millions they never had' before fleeing on a cross-channel ferry gets 35 years[/h]

• Gambler who lied to get into the UK murdered elderly couple to pay his debts
• He then fled abroad and had to be extradited back to the UK to face trial
• Killer said it was mistaken identity, but jury took just three hours to convict him
• Judge hands him life sentence and orders him to serve at least 35 years

 

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An Albanian asylum seeker who murdered an elderly couple then fled on a cross-channel ferry has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 35 years.
The body of Peter Stuart, 75, was found stabbed in shallow water in woodland near his home in Weybread, near Diss, Suffolk, on June 3 last year, and his wife, Sylvia, 69, is missing presumed dead.
It took a jury around three hours to find 43-year-old Ali Qazimaj guilty of their murders following a month-long trial.
Judge Jeremy Stuart-Smith sentenced Qazimaj to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years on each count at Ipswich Crown Court today.
He told the defendant: 'These were terrible and exceptional crimes against an elderly couple who had earned the right to spend the rest of their lives in peace and tranquillity.'
Describing Qazimaj as a 'ruthless and accomplished killer', he told him: 'If there's any humanity in your bones you will one day at least grant the family some relief by telling them what you have done to [Mrs Stuart].'
Suffolk Police believe Qazimaj has been in the UK since 1999, is from Albania and claimed to be from Kosovo to gain asylum in the UK.

 

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Peter Stuart, 75, was stabbed nine times. The body of his wife, Sylvia, has never been found

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Mr Stuart's body was found in a ditch not far from the couple's home in Suffolk

Judge Stuart-Smith asked that the case be flagged to the Secretary of State as the defendant's asylum claim was 'based on an untruth'.
Prosecutors said Qazimaj had lived in Tilbury, Essex and was a carer to the father-in-law of the Stuarts' daughter, Christy Paxman.
Qazimaj had gambling debts and believed the Stuarts to be millionaires, the court heard.

 

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The alarm was raised after they did not attend their regular line-dancing class.
In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecuting barrister Karim Khalil QC, Ms Paxman said: 'I've had to explain to my daughter that her granddad was stabbed to death and we don't know where my mummy is.
'This evil person has deprived my daughter of her grandparents.'

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Grey hairs belonging to Mrs Stuart were found in the boot of Qazimaj's car

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Ali Qazimaj at the port of Dover was spotted at the Port of Dover as he fled the country

She continued: 'I used to always look for a silver lining.
'I've now seen a nasty side of life and it's really hit me and made me cynical.
'I find myself thinking about my and my family's safety.'
She said that through the course of the trial she 'had to listen to the defendant blatantly lie and not show a flicker of remorse'.
Mr Khalil said the murders were pre-planned, there was no evidence of a struggle, there was no trace of Mrs Stuart beyond DNA in the boot of Qazimaj's Citroen car, and Qazimaj had shown knowledge of contract killings in Europe.
Qazimaj continues to claim that he had never been to the UK before his arrest and extradition from Luxembourg, and maintains that he is actually 44-year-old Vital Dapi.

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The couple are said to have been targeted for their money after a relative said they were rich

In a statement, translated from Albanian and read to the court by mitigating barrister Max Hill QC, the defendant said: 'I'm a just man who could never kill a fly, let alone two people.'
He continued: 'I want you to understand you're sentencing a man who is innocent.
'I feel sorry for the Stuarts' daughter but I can't help. I don't know where her mother's body is.'
The bearded defendant, who wore a grey flannel tracksuit, showed no emotion throughout the hearing.
Qazimaj showed no reaction as he was led to the cells.

 

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[h=3]Family's desperate plea for answers[/h]

The family of Sylvia Stuart still do not know where she is

Mr and Mrs Stuart's daughter Christy Paxman, 42, issued a plea outside court for Qazimaj to reveal where he had dumped the body of her mother.
She said in a statement: 'To the twisted individual who committed this wicked crime, we hope you spend the rest of your miserable existence reflecting on the utter senselessness and brutality of what you did to two innocent people.
'Maybe one day you will find the moral courage to tell us where mum is so we can give her and our family some final peace.'
Mrs Paxman also thanked police for their 'hard work and diligence' in investigating the case.
Det Chief Insp Andy Guy of Suffolk Police said outside court: 'We live in hope that he will give us the location of where Sylvia is.
'We hope it will happen, but of course it is in his hands. I have promised Christy that we will do all we can to try and find her mother, but I am doubtful that he will say.
'Despite a huge number of officers from three counties completing hundreds of hours of searches Sylvia remains missing. Searches were conducted around the Stuart's home address, the entire route between Weybread and Tilbury and the home and workplace of Qazimaj.
'I have promised the family, who have shown a quiet dignity throughout, that I will continue to follow up any information that assists in locating Sylvia. I would also ask anyone who may have information to call us.'

 

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Free bed and board for the rest of his life in the Uk great !

 

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Just goes to show you can say what you like at our borders.Nobody checks just let em all in

 

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Can't he serve his sentence in a real prison in Albania? Instead of the hotels in this country.