Two men convicted of murder and third of manslaughter over Bristol cannabis factory death
Aranit Lleshi died in a fight between two groups over the factory in Bristol last year
Last updated 22nd Mar 2023
Two men have been convicted of murder and a third of manslaughter after the death of a man in Bristol.
Aranit Lleshi, who was 32, died from injuries sustained in a fight between two groups over a cannabis factory, in May last year.
The factory had been set up inside a property on Bloomfield Road in Brislington and contained around ÂŁ95,000 worth of plants.
Brikel Palaj and Radian Lika, both from London have been found guilty of murder, while Nikola Palaj, also from London, has been found guilty of manslaughter.
In addition, 34-year-old Kastriot Mhillaj, of no fixed address, admitted a charge of violent disorder prior to the trial starting.
A jury at Bristol Crown Court heard how the criminal group who “owned” the cannabis crop were protecting it from another group who intended to steal it.
Aranit Lleshi was part of the group protecting the crop.
All four men will be sentenced at a date yet to be confirmed.
DCI Phil Walker said: “This was a horrendous incident played out on a spring evening in a quiet residential street and witnessed by those who lived there, as well as those passing by.
“These two groups, who are both from the London area, engaged in extreme levels of violence, using any weapons they could lay their hands on.
“CCTV footage shown to the jury during the trial captured two of the defendants going into a nearby supermarket to buy four large kitchen knives – a deliberate purchase to cause serious harm.
“The fact a young man has lost his life in this incident is a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with his family."
Two other men were found not guilty of offences related to the incident.
Sadik Lleshi, 35, of Tottenham, London, was found not guilty of violent disorder, while Rinush Behari, 33, of Woolwich in London, was found not guilty of murder and violent disorder.
Stella Waata, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the CPS South West Complex Casework Unit, said: “The violence used by those involved in this incident was ferocious and must have been frightening for those that witnessed it.
"While incidents like this are rare, it shows the risk posed by organised crime groups and why we and our police partners are determined to work together to dismantle them.
“They bring untold misery to our communities, and we will robustly prosecute cases, particularly those involving weapons.
"I would like to thank the local community for supporting the investigation and those who came forward as witnesses."
DCI Walker added: “There is often organised criminality behind cannabis grows and while it’s rare for extreme violence like this to result, the risk is always there.
“We’d encourage anyone with suspicions about a property in their neighbourhood being used for illegal drug activity to report their observations and concerns to the police – either by calling 101, contacting us online, or providing information anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers.”