Naim Murseli, pleaded “completely not guilty” to the charge of aggravated murder of his wife Liridona Ademaj, at the initial hearing at the Prishtina Basic Court on Friday. 

Ademaj’s murder was initially reported as a “robbery with fatal consequences.”

One of the accused, Tomë Dodaj, pleaded guilty to selling the firearm that was used in Ademaj’s murder.

“I voluntarily plead guilty,” Dodaj stated in court.

The judge announced that the case against Dodaj would be separated from the trial of the three other accused individuals. Dodaj was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

After the hearing, Dodaj’s lawyer, Agron Kuçi, stated that his client did not personally know the other accused individuals and only realized the weapon he sold had been used in a murder after the case was reported in the media. Kuçi argued that the five-year prison sentence was excessive and confirmed plans to appeal.

Kushtrim Kokalla, another defendant, declined to plead without consulting his lawyer, and the other accused, Granit Plava, chose to remain silent.

On January 15, 2025, more than a year after the shocking murder of 30-year-old Liridona Ademaj, the Prosecutor’s Office in Prishtina filed an indictment against four individuals, including her husband, Naim Murseli.

According to the prosecution, Kokalla did not commit the murder himself but introduced Murseli to Granit Plava, who is accused of carrying out the shooting. 

Plava was allegedly promised 30,000 euros for his role and is charged with aggravated murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The indictment states that on the night of the crime, Murseli signaled Plava with his car’s headlights before grabbing Ademaj’s arm to prevent her from dodging the bullet. After the shooting, Murseli reportedly exited the car with their children and fled the scene.

The initial hearing was scheduled for January 27 but was briefly interrupted as the defense attorneys for two of the accused stated they had not received case documents in time.

According to court documents obtained by BIRN, Murseli allegedly planned the murder to claim his wife’s life insurance, which was valued at 3 million Swedish krona (approximately 261,000 euros). The policy had been issued on June 25, 2022.

Liridona Ademaj was killed on November 29, 2023, on Dalip Alshiqi Street in Prishtina. Initially reported as a “robbery with fatal consequences,” the case took a dramatic turn when, two days later, on December 1, 2023, Kosovo Police arrested two suspects, including her husband.

The Prishtina Basic Court has since extended the detention of the three primary suspects—Murseli, Kokalla, and Plava—several times, with the latest extension issued on December 27, 2023.