
Kosta and Belere Plaku were escorted to their final home this Saturday, a day after the tragic event in the village of Vidhisht, Roskovec, where they were shot by their ex-son-in-law, Refit Buzi.
In a statement to Euronews Albania, Kosta's brother recounted the first moments of the incident and leveled accusations against the institutions, claiming that the constant threats from the perpetrator had been denounced long ago.
"I was asleep at home. It was around 05:20-05:30 when I heard the explosions. I woke up immediately, suspected something serious had happened, notified the Police and took the car to go there. When I arrived, he had shot, taken his niece and left. Then the ambulance and the Police arrived," he said.
According to him, the conflict had been going on for more than a year and the family had filed several reports against the perpetrator.
"It's a long story, at least more than a year old. The niece had reported him in Tirana because he was getting in her way and blocking her way. She received a protection order, which is still in effect until December.
"We tried to resolve it amicably, hoping that there would be no more problems, but once he came out, for about 40 days he sent threatening messages every day in various forms," he said.
He further said that despite the reports, the perpetrator was acquitted by justice.
"My niece, along with my brother, filed a complaint. The police arrested him, the Prosecution requested a detention order, but the Court left him under house arrest. The day he was released, not even an hour or two later, the threats continued.
"I told the inspector that he was moving freely. He said, 'Stop the threats and take some pictures.' I told him I'm not a photojournalist, but come on, I'll catch him and take him away. He told me it wasn't allowed," he confessed.
Asked about his niece's condition, he said he had not yet been able to speak to her.
"I haven't spoken to my niece, Rosalid, yet. I'll sit down and listen to her, but she's traumatized."
In the end, the victim's brother expressed his disappointment with the institutions, emphasizing that the tragedy could have been prevented.
"What I ask for is not coming back, but the institutions are soft, a facade. There were over 40 days of threats and they took it out again."
"When a person is a repeat offender, the measures should be toughened, not let go. This tragedy did not come only from the actions of one man, but also from the failure to enforce the law. If society does not react and the laws are not enforced, such cases will be repeated," he said.
He also criticized several portals for the way, according to him, they reported the event.
"I am unhappy with some portals. I have not read them myself, but my family members have told me. They are writing things that do not exist at all. The information should be verified before being published."
Kosta Plaku died at the scene, while his wife, Belere Plaku, died in hospital as a result of her injuries. After the crime, the perpetrator took his ex-wife hostage, whom he later released after negotiations with the Police, and ultimately ended her life.