Police have charged a 49-year-old Adelaide man with the murder of his 20-year-old daughter in Adelaide today.
Sabrina Lekaj, 20, was found dead in the passenger seat of the family’s Mercedes on Sunday night. Police found her father Petrit Lekaj injured but conscious next to her.
49-year-old Petrit was taken to hospital for serious abdominal injuries just before midnight on Sunday night, shortly after South Australian Police located the vehicle. The family car was located just 250 metres from the Lekaj home in Kidman Park.
Mr Lekaj was unable to give legal instruction at a hearing at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court earlier today. Police have formally remanded Mr Lekaj, and he will remain in hospital under police supervision ahead of a bedside hearing on Friday.
“Investigation into the matter is continuing and there is a lot of background information into the matter police are trying to establish,” Detective Chief Inspector Tony Ransom confirmed.
It is unclear how much information police have been able to retrieve from Mr Lekaj due to his substantial injuries. However, police are not currently investigating any other potential suspects.
Police have offered specialised support to the victim’s family including Sabrina’s younger brother and sister. Sabrina’s mother is currently too distressed to make a public statement.
A motive for the slaying is yet to be established by police. Mr Lekaj was seen happily mowing his lawn only hours before his daughter’s death.
Sabrina will be remembered as an academic and social young university student. She was a talented pianist and graduated high school with an impressive 99.35 ATAR.
Miss Lekaj partied with friends on Adelaide’s Hindley Street nightclub strip just hours before her death.
“Her last words before she got in her car were, ‘I love you and I’ll message you when I get home,’ and that’s all I heard from her,” her friend, Kat said.
According to Impact For Women, Sabrina Lekaj is one of 37 women to die violent deaths in Australia in 2019.
