FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Belgian federal prosecutors have requested a life sentence for Franc Gergely, known as Franc Çopja, found guilty of ordering the murder of Ardit Spahiu and of leading a criminal organization.
The request was filed today at the Serious Crimes Court in Brussels, after the jury found the 33-year-old guilty of the November 27, 2020 attack in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, where 38-year-old Spahiu was shot nine times in the back and head. According to the indictment, the murder was planned for months and was linked to clashes between criminal groups.
Prosecutors also requested that, in the event of a life sentence, Çopja be brought before the court of appeals no earlier than after five years. According to them, there are no mitigating circumstances that the jury should take into account in determining the sentence.
During the presentation of closing arguments, prosecutor Nathalie Franco called the defendant the "operational mastermind" of the plot, describing him as an "extremely dangerous individual," with a "total lack of empathy" and a "warlike and criminal mentality."
On the other hand, the defense opposed the request for life imprisonment, describing it as an “exemplary” measure that goes beyond the need for an individualized sentence. His lawyer argued that the sentence should be “necessary and proportionate,” citing the defendant’s young age and the lack of a previous conviction in Belgium.
Çopja himself addressed the jury, asking for "mercy" and emphasizing his age of 33.
Franc Gergely has been in custody in Belgium since December 29, 2023, following his extradition from the United Arab Emirates. He is accused of being part of a clash between Albanian criminal groups, in what the prosecution has described as a "clan war" with fatal consequences.
Lini një Përgjigje