Every third day, in our #EveryThreeDays campaign, I write about a woman killed by a man. Previously in this campaign, which started on the 2nd of May 2021, I have remembered 97 women, the last being Guida Rufino.
Today we remember Elidona Demiraj, who was murdered by her husband and partner Arben Rexha, 32, at their home in January 2015.
Elidonia was killed because Rexha had doubts if she was a virgin once shoving his hand down her trousers “to check.”
Rexha was initially charged with murder but then admitted to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
At the Old Bailey, Judge Marks told him:
‘It’s clear that she was a greatly loved daughter and her family are devastated by her death. You killed your wife at the home you shared together in Islington. It was in my view a sustained attack on a small, slightly built young woman. It was a killing of considerable brutality. You inflicted at least 27 incision injuries to her head, neck, sides and chest.
‘There can be no question but that you intended to kill her. The scene that greeted officers was one of absolute devastation.
‘I’m of the view that it’s a trait of your personality, not your illness, that you are prone to extreme possessiveness and jealousy.
Judge Marks gave Rexha an extended license period of five years upon his release.
Rexha wept as he was led down from the dock to the cells.
Elidonia’s parents said.
‘We saw her off as a bride and she returned to us dead. We are distraught by our daughter’s death at his hands. Be in no doubt that our pain is the same as the day we received the news of her death.
‘He isolated her for three months and didn’t let her meet people.
‘She was a model girl, with exemplary manners and politeness. She was respected by everyone, at school, as a student and work life, everywhere.’
Elidona Demiraj
#EveryThreeDays
