A man from Essex has pleaded guilty to the murder of Bledi Petraj, who was fatally stabbed during a fight in Enfield earlier this year. Kozma Papa, 22, from Cheltenham, admitted to the crime yesterday (October 24) at the Old Bailey.
The incident occurred on Queen Elizabeth’s Drive on February 4, when police were called shortly after 2 pm to respond to reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers found 37-year-old Petraj suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite efforts by paramedics, Petraj succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon after being transported to the hospital.
According to Detective Sergeant Matthew Goode, the confrontation unfolded when Petraj pulled over in his car, and Papa stopped behind him. Both men exited their vehicles and began to fight, leading to the fatal stabbing. It has never been established why they fought,” Goode said, “but whatever the reason for the confrontation, I know it wouldn’t justify the loss felt by Bledi’s family and the years that Papa will now spend in prison.
Papa was apprehended later that day in Hertfordshire after being stopped in a car. Following his arrest, he was charged with murder, and his guilty plea at the Old Bailey now means he will face a significant prison sentence.
The case has highlighted the tragic consequences of violence and the irreversible impact on families and communities. Authorities continue to urge people to find peaceful resolutions to conflicts and avoid unnecessary violence.
