He fled by lorry toward Albania after a man lost his life, Altin Shehu goes to court and defends the truth as he sees it

An Albanian who had lived for about six years without a residence permit in the United Kingdom is on trial at Maidstone Crown Court, accused of the murder of 33-year-old Vladimirs Perminovs in Gravesend.

Altin Shehu, 39, of Gravesend, denied murder, stating that he took the knife during the incident to protect himself.

The event for which the trial is being held took place on 12 August last year. The prosecution claims that Shehu and two others, 27-year-old Shahin Bulica and 33-year-old Erika Korsaka, both of Gravesend, are responsible for the death of Perminovs.

According to the charge, the fatal wounding was caused by Shehu, while the prosecution claims that the other two helped him during the incident.

During his testimony, Shehu claimed that he was attacked first and that he acted in self-defence. He added that he was also in fear for his life.

After the event, security cameras allegedly filmed Shehu and Bulica leaving the area. Shehu then left the country by lorry, without informing the police.

He was arrested in Albania in February this year and then extradited to the United Kingdom in May. A hearing on the case is expected in the coming days.

The court process continues, and the defendants’ criminal responsibility remains to be determined by the jury.

An Albanian who had stayed illegally in the United Kingdom for six years fled “by lorry” only days after the murder of Vladimirs Perminovs, a court has heard.

Altin Shehu, 39, of Augustine Road, Gravesend, is charged with murdering 33-year-old Vladimirs Perminovs in a fight in the early hours of 12 August 2025.

He denies murder and manslaughter, and the trial continues at Maidstone Crown Court, as KentOnline reports, noa.al reports, citing British media.

Giving evidence over two days and assisted by an interpreter, he explained how he had become involved in the incident.

Vladimirs Perminovs, the 33-year-old Latvian allegedly murdered in Gravesend in August 2025. Photo:

He said Korsaka was fighting with Masaitiene when Perminovs “suddenly” began attacking him, in an argument about how the 45-year-old had been mistreated during a meeting with him.

He said: “I was defending myself. I was defending my life.””

Shehu said he had not been able to see Masaitiene after the incident and did not know what had happened to her.

He added: “It was like he was fighting for a better life.””

Shehu said Perminovs fell to the floor in the alley and he followed him, holding the knife in his hand. He said he was then kicked by Perminovs.

The defendant said he had been “looking for a violent confrontation” when he went to Korsaka’s flat earlier.

When his lawyer, Andrew Trollope KC, asked him whether he remembered what he had done with the knife

A considerable police presence was seen after the death of a man in Augustine Road, Gravesend.

He also described himself as “half bent over” and still holding the weapon while Perminovs was kicking him.

“What were you doing?” Trollope asked.

“I was defending myself. I feared for my life,” Shehu replied.

He also denied that he had chased Perminovs or attacked him again after they had come out of the alley.

He had told the jury on the previous day that he had been kicked several times and hit in the head.

He said he was attacked from the front by Perminovs and then attacked from behind by a person he claimed was Korsaka’s partner, Shahin Bulica.

The jury heard that he had no defensive wounds and no bruising on his knuckles.

The police launched a murder investigation after a man was stabbed in Augustine Road, Gravesend.

After the incident, security cameras and doorbell cameras recorded Shehu and Bulica leaving Augustine Road, carrying, as seen in the footage, several bags and items.

The two men then walked towards a nearby bus stop, where Bulica got on a bus, while Shehu went towards the bus station.

Shehu said he had left Britain by lorry and had not informed the police, as he was afraid he might be arrested.

“I did not think about the police because I was scared,” he said.

The defendant replied: “Only to get him away from me. The intention was not to cause him serious harm.”

Shehu said he was arrested in February of this year in Albania, where he had gone to visit his family.

The trial continues.