The High Court in London has temporarily blocked the extradition from England of five individuals sought by Albanian justice on suspicion of involvement in the murder of Ardian Nikulaj in April 2023 in Shëngjin.
This is the decision of Judge Justice Swift, as reported by Top Channel journalist Muhamed Veliu, accepting the request not to extradite to Albania Thomas Mithan, Harriet Bridgeman, Harry Simpson, Steven Hunt, and Edmond Haxhia, who, according to the Lezhë Prosecutor's Office, was the organizer of the murder.
According to the decision handed down on the morning of this Friday, Judge Justice Swift accepted the defense's argument that former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper signed an extradition order based on old charges of murder for blood feud, which was later changed to premeditated murder in collaboration.
Based on these arguments, the judge declared the arrest warrants, which had been converted into extradition orders, invalid.
Another argument accepted by the court relates to the guarantees provided by the prosecutors of Lezhë that the five wanted individuals would not be charged with blood feud.
The decision states that this guarantee is no longer valid since the two prosecutors who issued it are no longer part of the Albanian justice system, having left after the vetting process.
Top Channel asked the British prosecution, which in this case represents the interests of the Albanian state, what happens after this action.
A spokesperson said that "on behalf of the Republic of Albania, notice has been given of the intention to seek permission to appeal to the Supreme Court under Article 114 of the Extradition Act 2003."
The same spokesperson confirmed that Haxhia, Mithan, Simpson, and Hunt will remain in custody, while Bridgeman will be released on bail. /Top Channel/