Man guilty of helping fugitive brother flee UK

A car was driven at a crowd gathered outside a Luton nightclub in April, jurors were told

A 28-year-old man has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice by helping his brother flee the UK after being charged with attempted murder.

Erion Bytyci, of Manor Road, Luton, was convicted by jurors on Tuesday after a trial at Luton Crown Court.

His brother, Nardi Bytyci, 23, had been charged with two counts of attempted murder after people were injured when a car was driven into a crowd outside the Kumba Lounge nightclub in Chapel Street, Luton, on Saturday, 5 April.

Jurors at Erion Bytyci's trial were told that Nardi Bytyci, of Fanshawe Avenue, Barking, east London, had disappeared.

'Skipped Bail'

Judge Allison Hunter said she aimed to sentence Erion Bytyci, who was remanded in custody after being charged, next month.

Prosecution barrister Martyn Bowyer had told the trial that Nardi Bytyci had "skipped bail" and "evaded justice".

He said a Fiat 500 was driven into a crowd outside the Kumba Lounge at about 03:30 BST, leaving people with "life-threatening" injuries.

Nardi Bytyci, the car driver, was detained at the scene by members of the public until police arrived, jurors heard.

Erion Bytyci was convicted after a trial at Luton Crown Court accused of perverting the course of justice

Mr Bowyer said Nardi Bytyci, who was also charged with drink driving, had been granted bail by magistrates in Luton on Monday, 7 April.

He said magistrates had imposed conditions and ordered Nardi Bytyci to live in Barking, report daily to a police station, and hand his passport to police.

Jurors were told that by the morning of Wednesday, 9 April, Nardi Bytyci was in France.

Mr Bowyer said evidence indicated that Erion Bytyci had helped his brother.

He said mobile phone data showed the two brothers, both "Albanian nationals", were together on 8 April.

Nardi Bytyci had also messaged his brother to say he was on a ferry sailing from Dover, Kent, jurors were told.

Erion Bytyci said he drove his brother to Dover but had nothing to do with him leaving the UK

Erion Bytyci, who denied perverting the course of justice, told jurors that he had "nothing to do" with his brother going missing.

He said he had driven his brother to a pub in Dover - but had not helped him leave the country.

"The last time I saw him was when I dropped him off at the pub," he told jurors.

"I have got nothing to do with my brother - him leaving the country."

Erion Bytyci said he could not be "responsible" for what his brother did.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told the BBC after the trial that a prosecution lawyer had asked magistrates to remand Nardi Bytyci in custody at the hearing on 7 April.