Man charged with Hemawand Ali Hussain murder appears in court

Hemawand Ali Hussain was shot dead in Hartlepool in September 2019. <i>(Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)</i>
Hemawand Ali Hussain was shot dead in Hartlepool in September 2019. (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)
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A man charged in connection with a North East murder six years ago having been detained in Brussels will go on trial this summer.

Hemawand Ali Hussain was killed after he was shot at point-blank range inside a house in Charterhouse Street, Hartlepool, in September 2019.

Sajmir Dodoveci, was detained at a train station in Brussels on Tuesday, December 23, as enquiries continue into the 32-year-old's death.

The 40-year-old was extradited to the UK last week and later charged with the murder of Mr Hussain.

Judge Francis Laird KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, remanded the defendant in custody until his next appearance at Teesside Crown Court on January 26 for a pre-trial preparation hearing.

The judge set a provisional trial date of June 22 and the accused was not asked to enter a plea to the charge during the short hearing.

In 2022 Eugert Merizaj was jailed for life for Mr Hussain’s murder.

He fled the UK and was also traced to Belgium, extradited here and sent to trial, where he was convicted at the same court.

CCTV of Armando Marku, who police are still attempting to trace. (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)


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Three other men were jailed in January 2021 after being found guilty of manslaughter.

They are Noza Saffari, 40, who was jailed for 15 years, Dorian Pirija, 34, who was handed a 19-year sentence and 26-year-old Qazim Marku, also imprisoned for 19 years.

A 34-year-old man was also detained in Belgium in February 2024, and arrangements are being made for him to be extradited to stand trial.

Twenty-six-year-old Albanian man Armando Marku, remains outstanding.

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