Petrit Lekaj pleads guilty to murdering his 20-year-old daughter Sabrina Lekaj
A father has admitted murdering his 20-year-old daughter in her car — entering his plea today less than a month after the shocking crime.
A Kidman Park father has pleaded guilty to the murder of his 20-year-old daughter, Sabrina Lekaj, last month.
Petrit Lekaj, 49, appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday via video link from forensic mental health facility James Nash House.
When asked if he would be pleading guilty to the murder of Sabrina, he responded “yes”.
Sabrina was found dead in her white 2002 Mercedes-Benz, next to her father, just 250m from their Kidman Ave, Kidman Park, home on July 21.
Petrit Lekaj was suffering a serious abdominal injury and was rushed to hospital.
His lawyer, Ben Sale, said he was grateful to have the matter called on to enter the plea, just one month after Sabrina’s death.
“After a lot of consideration my instructions are that if the charge is read my client will enter a plea of guilty,” he said.
The swift plea can be taken into account when a sentencing judge imposes penalty. The mandatory minimum non-parole period for murder in South Australia is 20 years, unless special circumstances exist.
Defence lawyers may ask that the early plea be considered a special circumstance.
Under state law, Lekaj is entitled to a discount of up to 40 per cent because he has entered his plea within four weeks of his first court appearance.
Prosecutors asked the court for a 12-week adjournment to allow for a toxicology report and post-mortem report to be completed before Lekaj is sentenced in the Supreme Court.
Sabrina has previously been remembered by her family and friends as cherished, ambitious and academically gifted.
Her 11-year-old brother, Pyrrhus Lekaj, had previously described his sister as his “loving and caring” best friend who inspired his dreams to become a doctor or a scientist.
“She was very smart and always influenced me to become more,” he said.
“And help me with my studies to become successful in life.”
The well-loved and talented student had studied classical piano performance before going on to study medical imaging at the University of South Australia.
Lekaj, a property developer and well-known member of the local Albanian community, will return to court in November.