Brikel Palaj

The offence

What the court heard

He was found guilty of murder in Brislington, Bristol, on 24 May 2022. Sentencing Remarks of The Honourable Mr Justice Saini 1. Brikel Palaj and Radian Lika, in March this year you were each convicted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court of the murder of Aranit Lleshi. Nikola Palaj, you were convicted of the manslaughter of Aranit Lleshi. Kastriot Mhillaj you entered a guilty plea to violent disorder at the first day of the trial. 2. It now falls to me to sentence you for these offences. I have received very helpful notes and submissions from Defence and Prosecution Counsel and my attention has been drawn to the relevant provisions of the Sentencing Act 2020 and applicable guidelines. Where I state factual findings in the course of these remarks, I am sure of those facts based on the evidence I heard at trial. 3. I have read the moving statement submitted by Aranit's brother, Vasfi, on behalf of his family. Vasfi describes how the family have lost a loved and dear son and brother. Sadik Lleshi, who was with Aranit in the last moments of his life, had to witness his youngest brother being murdered. His anguish and pain were clear throughout the trial. 4. The facts surrounding the death of Aranit are as follows. On 24 May 2022 Brikel Palaj, Nikola Palaj, Radian Lika, Kastriot Mhillaj and an acquitted co-accused came to Bristol to steal a cannabis crop. The crop was being farmed at 13 Bloomfield Road, Brislington by another criminal gang. 5. Nikola Palaj is the younger brother of Brikel Palaj. Nikola and Mhillaj had only been in England for a few months before the events of 24 May 2022. Brikel and Lika have lived in the UK for some years. As we did during the trial, I will refer to the group who came to steal the cannabis crop as Group B. 6. Aranit, the deceased, and a number of other men were part of the other group, Group A, who had been involved in growing and protecting the cannabis crop at 13 Bloomfield Road. The members of the two groups did not know one another, although they each came from the Albanian community. 7. Brikel and Lika had been involved in stealing cannabis crops from various grow houses for about a year, usually relying upon inside information or chatter within the London Albanian community. This was a lucrative business but I find that, as far as Brikel and Lika were concerned, it did not involve violence. It consisted essentially of staking out properties and moving in to cut and steal cannabis when they were empty. In fact, just before…

Around this case

• Bristol Crown Court
• Prosecuted by CPS South West
• Investigated by Avon and Somerset Constabulary