The release of the man who killed three women provokes public outcry

The killing of three women and the wounding of three others within a matter of minutes has shocked public opinion in Albania. However, the fact that the court had recently released the 40-year old man, Dritan Hutra despite a series of crimes he had committed, including the murder of his wife in 2007, has caused much outcry.

Today, Tirana District Court, which, had released Hutra on 16 February, has reacted specifically on this case by explaining the legal reasons that led to that decision which had terrible repercussions.

According to the court, after being arrested for domestic violence in June 2022, Hutra was initially sentenced to a year and a half in prison. His sentence had been reduced due to the fact that the couple claimed that they had reconciled and because the mother of the defendant, who lived with the defendant, had medical conditions.

But given that the time he had spent in custody was longer than the prison sentence, the court released him on February 16 this year.

The events that shocked the Albanian capital, Tirana on Wednesday were gruesome.

The first crime took place in the area of Paskuqan around 1 pm, when Dritan Hutra, 40 years of age, went at the home of his former partner and opened fire, leaving Mevlute Hysa and Hasime Dafku, both 30 years of age, dead. The perpetrator's former partner, Elena Hysa, 35 remained wounded along with her 60 year old mother.

Almost at the same time, a second crime took place in Kamza, when a 31 year old woman was found executed at her home. The victim was Etleva Kurti and police suspect the same man to be the killer of this woman.

Several hours later, a third crime, this time in the area of Astir. Prior to the massacre in Paskuqan, Dritan Hutra had wounded his former girlfriend, Marjana Gurakuqi, 40 years old.

Authorities believe all of these crimes have been committed by the same man, the 40 year old Dan Hutra, who was captured by police a few hours after committing his crimes in the outskirts of the capital.