Alleged hitman was disguised as litter picker, court hears

A SWEDISH hitman disguised himself as a litter picker before shooting a father on his doorstep, a court has heard.

Flamur Beqiri, 36, was killed outside his home in Battersea, south-west London, at about 9pm on Christmas Eve 2019. The father of two had been hand in hand with his wife, Debora Krasniqi, and their two-year-old son moments before the alleged killer, Anis Hemissi, 24, struck from behind, Southwark Crown Court was told.

Mr Hemissi, a national of Sweden and Tunisia, flew into London on Dec 20 and left the country for Copenhagen in the early hours of Christmas Day, the court heard. He is said to have stayed in a riverfront Battersea flat and carried out reconnaissance trips in disguise, using a bicycle and a litter-picking device earlier bought by accomplices.

On one occasion, two days before the killing, Mr Hemissi allegedly dressed in work clothing, including a jacket and trousers with neon flashes, boots, a hat and gloves.

Mark Heywood QC, for the prosecution, told the court that Mr Hemissi cycled to Mr Beqiri’s home, then walked around the area for four and a half hours with a “black bag in one hand and a litter picker in the other”. He said: “Not only was his head covered with a dark hat, his neck wrapped up high towards his face, his eyes covered with sunglasses, but also, it will be a matter for you to consider, it appears as if he was wearing a latex mask as well.”

He aroused the suspicions of a dog walker, who challenged him, causing him to walk off, the court was told.

“The litter picker outfit was not worn again because his cover was blown, it is as simple as that,” Mr Heywood said, adding that Mr Hemissi wore a latex mask with another disguise to carry out reconnaissance the following day and the same dark clothing when he shot Mr Beqiri.

Mr Hemissi denies murder and possession of a self-loading pistol.

The trial continues.