Murder cases in the Republic of Kosovo (2020-2024): Classifications, trends and legal framework
Keywords:
murder, legal framework, psychological tendencies, offenders, KosovoAbstract
Murder serves as a critical indicator of social dysfunction, where crime often replaces lawful conflict resolution. This study examines murder cases in the Republic of Kosovo from 2020 to 2024, analysing the patterns that lead to these murders over time. The research further evaluates the system of murder cases while comparing them to the current legal framework. The approach in this research uses a mixed-method approach, which includes interviews with the national police, media reports, police records, a legal framework, and analysis of psychological tendencies followed by offenders or potential offenders. The objective of the research is to understand murder as a pattern of violence and further distinguish between the different types of murders. The findings indicate a decline in completed murders, implying a shift in attempted murder, indicating that the attempted murders are not premeditated but occur impulsively, often in the heat of the moment, during interpersonal conflicts rather than organised planning or criminal enterprise. The study builds on criminological theories of violent crime and legal studies on murder cases in Kosovo, offering a perspective on murders. This study aims to contribute to criminological research and provide policy recommendations in legal and law enforcement responses to such crimes.
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