A Kosovar man convicted of murdering his wife will not be released after serving two-thirds of his 20-year prison sentence, despite the standard practice of early release for well-behaved inmates. The Swiss Federal Court has rejected his appeal, upholding a previous ruling that deemed him unfit for conditional release.
The man, now 57 years old, shot his wife five times in broad daylight in Riniken, Aargau, in 2009, after she sought to divorce him. Having completed two-thirds of his sentence by September 2022, he had applied for parole, but Swiss authorities determined that he still posed a danger to society.
A psychiatric evaluation diagnosed him with a severe personality disorder featuring narcissistic and paranoid traits, as reported by SDA.ch. The report also noted his inherent tendency toward violence and his strong attachment to traditional Albanian customary law—Kanun—which historically includes rigid concepts of honor and family reputation.
Swiss authorities highlighted that his prior attempts at rehabilitation, including outpatient therapy, had been unsuccessful. The court further noted that while incarcerated, he repeatedly exhibited arrogant behavior, particularly when he felt his pride was challenged.
Before the murder, the man had previously been arrested for threatening his wife with a firearm. Despite this, he later carried out the brutal killing, believing that his family’s honor had been disgraced. The couple had three children together.
Given these factors, the Federal Court ruled that his release would pose an unacceptable risk, affirming the decision of the Aargau Administrative Court to keep him in custody.