Man charged in connection with 2019 murder following extensive international policing enquiries.

Just over six years since Hemawand Ali Hussain was brutally executed in Hartlepool, another man has now been charged in connection with the 32-year-old’s murder.

As part of on-going enquiries between Cleveland Police, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and international partners, Sajmir Dodoveci (40) was detained at a train station in Brussels on Tuesday 23^rd December - two days before Christmas.

Dodoveci was extradited to the UK this week and subsequently charged with the murder of Mr Hussain who was shot at point blank range inside a house in Charterhouse Street in September 2019.

He appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court today (Friday 9th January) and was remanded until he appears at Teesside Crown Court next Tuesday (13th January).

Extensive enquiries by Cleveland Police previously saw Eugert Merizaj jailed for life for Mr Hussain’s murder.  He’d fled the UK following the murder and was also traced to Belgium, extradited back here and sent to trial where he was convicted.

Three other men were jailed in January 2021 after being found guilty of manslaughter.  They are Noza Saffari, 40, who was jailed for 15 years, Dorian Pirija, 34, who was handed a 19-year sentence and 26-year-old Qazim Marku, also imprisoned for 19 years.

 A 34-year-old man was also detained in Belgium in February 2024 and arrangements are being made for him to be extradited to stand trial.

And a further suspect, 26-year-old Albanian man Armando Marku (pictured below), remains outstanding.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Lyndsey Dale from Cleveland Police said: “Despite the passage of time, this case remains a priority for the force and we’ve made significant progress through extensive enquiries - both in the UK and overseas.

“This is a complex and challenging case which has required collaboration across multiple jurisdictions over a number of years. Our officers and partner agencies including international organisations and the NCA have worked tirelessly throughout this period, and we continue to pursue every possible lead.

“I’d like to thank my team and all those involved for their continued collaboration and for sharing our commitment to achieving justice for Hemawand Ali Hussain and his family, no matter how long it takes.

“Over recent months, our dedicated detectives have engaged with law enforcement agencies in Europe, sharing intelligence and conducting extensive enquiries. These international enquiries have been crucial in developing new lines of investigation which have resulted in this most recent arrest; Dodoveci’s detention proves that you simply cannot escape the law.

“All our thoughts remain with Mr Hussain’s family and with his wife and sons who are being kept up to date with developments throughout.”

Finally Detective Inspector Dale warned: “We’ll now be doubling down on our efforts to locate and arrest Armando Marku who is still wanted in connection with this murder.

“Our enquiries at home and overseas lead us to believe he has left the UK and is currently abroad so we’re working closely with international law enforcement agencies to trace and apprehend him; this will be the continued focus of the investigation team going forward.  We will not stop and we will use all available methods to find him.

“I urge anyone who has information about Armando Marku or his current location to come forward. Even the smallest detail could assist our investigation. Please contact Cleveland Police on 101 quoting incident number SE19159141(Operation Chard).

“And when Mr Marku sees this update, as I am sure he will, I’d urge him to come forward and hand himself into to local law enforcement since it’s only a matter of time before the police come to him and effect his arrest.”