Homeless Leeds murder accused 'unlikely' to stand trial this winter
A judge has said it is looking “extremely unlikely” that a homeless man accused of stabbing a man to death will stand trial this winter, with plans to transfer him to Rampton Hospital.
Eljon Markaj is charged with murdering 26-year-old Elsiado Marku in Headingley in August last year.
Two psychiatrists have already deemed Markaj as unfit to stand trial, and a third report was ordered during a previous hearing at Leeds Crown Court.
The case was brought back to court this week where it was heard that the Albanian Markaj had refused to engage with the doctor for his latest assessment. Markaj was not present in court.
However, the doctor agreed that the 31-year-old should be detained for treatment, with a preference that he is sent to high-security Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire.
Markaj had been scheduled to stand trial on March 9 but Judge Robins Mairs said that target date was “becoming untenable”.
He adjourned the case until February 3 to consider a new, possible trial date. Markaj remains in custody.
Should he still be deemed unfit to take part, a trial of fact could be held will be held whereby a jury will listen to the prosecution and defence counsels’ case.
The defendant cannot be found guilty or not guilty, but the jury will decide whether he was responsible for the killing.
Police were called to Cardigan Road, Headingley, shortly before 4.30pm on Friday, August 29, to reports that a man had been stabbed.
Mr Marku was found and pronounced dead at the scene.
Forensic officers were seen outside the property in the hours after the discovery and a scene-of-crime tent was erected.