Double Murder Suspect Disputes His Identity

A man accused of murdering an elderly Suffolk couple has told a court he is not the person he is accused of being.

Ali Qazimaj appeared at Ipswich Crown Court after he was extradited from Luxembourg back to the UK charged with the June deaths of Peter Stuart and his wife Sylvia.

When the 43-year-old was asked by the judge if he was Ali Qazimaj, he replied through an Albanian translater: "No, I am Vital Dapi."

He added that he was born Elba Sam, in Albania.

Dressed in a white T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, the defendant remained silent for the rest of the brief hearing.

Paul Scothern, prosecuting, said: "Identification was made in Luxembourg with photographs and fingerprint evidence taken around the time of his arrest and compared with records in this country.

"I will say no more at this stage."

Judge David Goodin acknowledged the defendant's claims but added: "You're before this court on two counts of murder.

"I shall remand you in custody for 28 days at which time it will be expected that the court will proceed to require you to enter your plea to the counts you face and if they are not guilty pleas, to bring the case to trial."

Peter Stuart, 75, was stabbed to death and his body was found in woodland near his home in Weybread on 3 June.

The body of his wife, 69-year-old wife Sylvia Stuart, has never been found, but police fear she is dead and continue to search for her body.

They were last seen alive at Goodies Farm Shop in Pulham Market in Norfolk on 29 May.

They have been described by friends as keen line dancers who had a "zest for life".

The defendant initially declined to appear in court until he had an Albanian interpreter.

Stephen Harris, defending, said the lack of an interpreter was perceived by his client as "a conspiracy against him and that it's being done deliberately to stop him giving his case properly".

The defendant, formerly of Tilbury, Essex, and currently of no fixed abode, has entered no pleas.

He has been remanded in custody until 19 August.