Albanian man fatally crashed into English pensioner, threw away clothes and license plates to hide crime, other Albanian... (Names)

2026-02-03 18:44:41Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Albanian man fatally crashed into English pensioner, threw away clothes and
The victim, Thomas Wallace

An Albanian driver has admitted causing the death of an 89-year-old retired dentist in a crash that shocked the community of Gillingham, Kent. The victim, Thomas Wallace, was hit by a grey Mercedes estate car at around 12pm on December 29 last year. His body was found almost a mile from where he was hit, on Grange Road, Medway.

The Albanian driver, 29-year-old Albert Matraxhiu from Edgware, London, and his Albanian passenger, Erald Paci, 29, from Chatham, Kent, abandoned the car and then threw away their phones, clothes and number plates. Both Albanians appeared at Maidstone Crown Court to give their accounts. Albert Matraxhiu denied causing death by dangerous driving, but admitted a lesser charge of causing death by careless driving.

Both Albert Matraxhiu and Erald Paci also admitted acting with the intention of concealing the incident immediately after the accident. Both were remanded in custody. Judge Julian Smith described the incident as one of extraordinary circumstances, noting that the car had continued to move with Wallace on top of it for almost a kilometre before he fell onto the road.

Albert Matraxhiu will face trial on charges of “causing death by dangerous driving” on July 13. He is also charged with driving without insurance, driving while disqualified, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident.

Both Albanians have undetermined immigration status. Erald Paci was previously deported from the UK and was awaiting a decision from the Home Office, while Albert Matraxhiu has refused immigration status.

Wallace's family, some of whom were in the courtroom, released a statement through police noting that he had recently become a great-grandfather. "He was a respected and beloved member of the community and deserved a better end to his life than this," they said.


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