An Albanian drug dealer who came to the UK in a small boat has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years after he repeatedly stabbed a countryman to death in an argument over a handshake.
Kozma Papa, 22, was seen standing over Bledi Petraj, 37, and repeatedly stabbing him in the chest shortly before 2pm on February 4.
The violent attack occurred on Queen Elizabeth’s Drive, Enfield, after Mr Petraj refused to shake hands with Papa at a nearby cafe in Southgate, North London.
Words were exchanged between the pair and others around the two had to stand in between them to separate them after Mr Petraj pushed Papa in the upper chest. Papa then picked up a coffee cup and threw it at Mr Petraj, a court heard.
Papa then called a cousin of Mr Petraj, Alexander Petrai via Instagram and told Mr Petrai that he had hit Mr Petraj but had not sworn at him, Mr Petrai told Papa that he had to sort it out.
Shortly after that phone call Mr Petraj drove his BMW into Queen Elizabeth’s Drive and moments later Papa arrived in his Ford Mondeo.
The pair were parked on opposite sides of the road when they both got out of their cars armed with large knives during the fight Mr Petraj dropped or lost control of his knife.
Papa then picked up his knife and, armed with two knives, held Mr Petraj down and repeatedly stabbed his torso.
Papa, of Fairview Road, Cheltenham, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years on Friday, December 6.
Papa arrived illegally on a boat to the UK in September 2022 and subsequently applied for asylum at the time of the murder, he had yet to be granted asylum.
The application has subsequently been declined, meaning he could be deported.
The 22-year-old briefly walked away, before coming back to Mr Petraj and again crouching over him and forcefully stabbing him twice more.
Prosecuting, Julian Evans, KC said: ‘Mr Petraj and Mr Papa both got out of their cars.
‘Each man emerged from his car armed with a knife both men confronted each other in the road, it would appear that each man was aiming blows at the other with his knife.
‘As the fight continued, Mr Papa advanced towards Mr Petraj in turn, Mr Petraj moved onto the nearby pavement followed by Mr Papa.
‘For a brief moment, their movements are obscured by a hedge seconds later, Mr Petraj came back into view, by now, he was moving backwards along the pavement.
‘Mr Papa was moving quickly towards him at some point, Mr Petraj either dropped or lost control of his knife.
‘Thereafter, at some point, Mr Papa picked up Mr Petraj’s knife.
‘Mr Papa continued to advance towards Mr Petraj armed with two knives. By now, Mr Petraj was unarmed.
‘Mr Petraj fell to the floor on his back by the rear of the Mondeo, there, he started to kick out at Mr Papa, who continued to advance towards him.
‘Mr Papa was standing above him, both knives in hand. As Mr Petraj lay on his back on the floor, Mr Papa crouched down over him and straddled him.
‘Holding Mr Petraj down, Mr Papa delivered multiple blows at the victim, repeatedly stabbing him in the torso.
‘This violence lasted for about 25 seconds a few seconds later, Mr Papa walked slowly towards the victim.
‘Mr Petraj was still on his back on the floor looking up at Mr Papa, he tried to kick out to keep him away.
‘Mr Papa then crouched down over the victim and delivered two further forceful stabs at the victim, both aimed at his upper body.’
The latter stages of the horrific incident were seen by stunned members of public, who saw that Mr Petraj was completely defenceless when Papa delivered the final blows.
Mr Petraj was taken to hospital, but despite the best efforts of the doctors, he was pronounced dead at 4.10pm.
Papa was arrested at 3.25pm, driving around in the same bloodstained clothes he had been wearing during the incident. He pleaded guilty to murder.
The court heard victim impact statements from the family of Mr Petraj, who described him as a ‘wonderful and funny person.’
A newphew said: ‘He was the most caring person I have ever seen. It makes me so upset that I will never see him again, I really miss him so much, thank you for being the best uncle, we miss you uncle Bledi.’
Defending Papa, Tyrone Smith, KC, ‘The defendant had been was acting in a normal and sociable way.
‘It was a chance meeting, as he came out of the cafe, he offered to shake hands but Mr Petraj did not and refused to shake hands with this defendant.
‘We don’t say the defendant behaved well, he too behaved poorly, (insults) may have been less provoking to other members of society but it clearly was to this defendant.
‘The defendant appeared by the end of events to be perfectly happy to engage or at least to say that he wished to fight the deceased as the deceased said to him.
‘It appeared there was an agreement to subsequently meet and fight.
‘Events that unfolded are deeply unattractive, they essentially showed two men fighting in broad daylight.
‘He was arrested shortly after and effectively said to the police ‘well done you’ve got me’
‘He unwisely entered a not guilty plea to murder but you must remember he is 21, in a foreign country facing the gravest charge.
‘We see no reason why he would call a close friend of the deceased were he not trying to avoid further violence.
‘He recognises what he does, he recognises the consequences of what he has caused, he recognises he is going to receive a lengthy sentence.
‘But, unlike so many other defendants, he had the decency and the courage to accept responsibility for his actions.
‘It is not an easy thing to do, it is not an easy thing to do to explain to all those people who hold him in such high regards. He has done the right thing.’
The Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, told Papa: ‘You were 21 at the time, now 22, there are no previous convictions, reprimands, warnings or cautions against you in this country.
‘In the defence statement, you admit some involvement in drug dealing. At the time of these offences, you remained an asylum seeker.
‘It may well be that you are deported. Having armed yourself, you used it to attack and went on to use two knives a number of times during the course of the altercation, I note this attack takes place in a public street in daylight.
‘There is a lack of significant pre-meditation. There was clearly animosity between the two of them.
‘As Mr Smith rightly concedes in his sentencing note, even if this court was to accept there was no intention to kill, it would afford little if any mitigation.
‘To some extent, I do accept there was an element of provocation and loss of control. In mitigation, reliance is placed on your age.
‘I have seen and read documents from prison that show you have used time on remand well.
‘Those who know you are shocked you have been involved in such grave violence. I have seen and read an articulate letter where you express remorse.
‘A person sentenced to life who is released remans on licence for the rest of their life.’