Two more men are awaiting extradition to the UK in connection with their alleged roles in the murder of a man in Hartlepool.
Four men are already serving prison sentences after being convicted for their roles in the execution-style murder of Hemawand Ali Hussain.
The 32-year-old was shot and killed at a house on Charterhouse Street, Hartlepool, on September 14, 2019.
Sajmir Dodoveci appeared in Teesside Crown Court charged with murder after he was extradited following his arrest at a train station in Brussels on Tuesday, December 23.
The 40-year-old pleaded not guilty to the offence and a provisional trial date was set for June 22.
Francis Fitzgibbon KC, prosecuting, told the court that efforts were being made to return two more men suspected of being involved in the alleged murder who are currently in custody in Belgium and Albania.
Judge Francis Laird KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, remanded Dodoveci in custody and set a further preliminary hearing date for April.
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Extensive enquiries by Cleveland Police previously saw Eugert Merizaj jailed for life for Mr Hussain’s murder.
He’d fled the UK following the murder and was also traced to Belgium, extradited here and sent to trial, where he was convicted.
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.
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