Sabrina Lekaj murder: 20-year-old student had told friends that she had a volatile relationship with her parents
ADELAIDE: The 20-year-old university student, Sabrina Lekaj, who was allegedly fatally stabbed by her father had a strained relationship with her parents, latest reports state.
Sabrina was found dead in the front seat of her Mercedes-Benz sedan car seat just a few meters away from her family home in Kidman Park, Adelaide at around 11:30 pm on Sunday. Her father, 49-year-old Petrit Lekaj, was also found beside her with a stab wound. Officers reportedly had to smash the vehicle's window to drag the father out of the car, who had a serious abdominal injury.
South Australian police took him to a hospital where he continues to remain under police guard after being charged with his daughter's murder.
In a set of text messages exchanged between Sabrina and her close friends, she revealed the kind of life she had at her Adelaide home where she lived with her parents. Sabrina, in a text to one of her friends, mentioned that she had a volatile relationship with her parents and how they "had a lot of beef." She added in the texts that she did not want to live under the same roof as them anymore.
In a text exchange with one of her friends, Sabrina said that she cried because her mother, Romina Lekaj, generally calls her a "bi**h". Sabrina in the text says: "I just cried..." The friend asks: "In laughter?" To which Sabrina replies with: "Nah I was genuinely upset... because my mum always calls me a b***h so it hit a sensitive spot."
The friend then extends her support saying: "Aww well you're not a b***h babe don't listen to anyone or what they have to say." Sabrina responds to this by saying: "Thank you, babe. Your opinion matters more than that loser... (she) shouldn't be working with kids," the Daily Mail reported.
In another set of text messages, Sabrina encourages the same friend to not got to the university because it's a "trap."
Sabrina says: "Are u planning to go to Uni? Don't do it it's a trap." The friend replies with: "Yes babe I wanna study but I wanna make sure I'm set up money and house wise before I do cause I don't live or speak to my parents." Sabrina then says: "That really sucks. I had a lot of beef with mine but somehow I'm still living here lol" and adds "There are a lot of things I wish I could take back."
Reports state that an hour before Sabrina was found dead, her mother had raised an alarm with police over concerns for the safety of her daughter and husband.
Meanwhile, Petrit Lekaj could soon be free to walk out of police custody as he is making a bid for his freedom, a court was told on Friday. Lekaj faced a bedside hearing before the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court and was charged with murdering his medical student daughter.
Lekaj's lawyer told the court that he could apply for bail within weeks depending on his recovery from stab wounds. Police believe that Lekaj inflicted the wounds on himself after he allegedly murdered his daughter.
Reports state that Lekaj appeared in court over the phone from his hospital bed at Royal Adelaide Hospital where he continues to be under police guard. He will remain in police custody until his next court appearance.
"There may well be, in the coming weeks, an application for bail but I will give notice of that in due course," Lekaj's lawyer Ben Sale told the court.