Kickboxer denies 'executing' reality TV star's brother in front of wife and young child
Flamur Beqiri was on the doorstep of his London home when he was shot multiple times by a lone gunman.
Thursday 27 August 2020 15:15, UK
A kickboxer has denied carrying out an "organised hit" on the brother of a former reality TV star on Christmas Eve.
Anis Fouad Hemissi, 23, is accused of shooting dead Flamur Beqiri on his doorstep in London last year.
Mr Beqiri, the brother of former Real Housewives of Cheshire star Misse Beqiri, was shot multiple times in front of his wife and young child at around 9pm on 24 December.
The family had just returned to their home in Battersea, west London, when the 35-year-old was shot by a lone gunman.
It is claimed Hemissi, from Malmo, Sweden, flew into the UK four days before with the sole purpose of "executing" Mr Beqiri in an organised hit.
Hemissi, who has Tunisian heritage, was arrested at Copenhagen Airport on 20 January after flying there from London, and was extradited to the UK.
Appearing at the Old Bailey via video link for a plea hearing on Thursday, he denied charges of murder and possessing a prohibited firearm described as a self-loading pistol.
A trial of up to three weeks will take place before a High Court judge from 12 July 2021.
Mr Beqiri, a Swedish national with Albanian heritage, had been living in London for four or five years when he was shot.
He married his wife, Debora Krasniqi, in Italy in October 2018.