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A father has spoken of his grief after his daughter was stabbed to death just three months after moving from Albania to Islington.

Halil Demiraj paid tribute to daughter Elidona as her body was returned to the family home in the northern part of Albania. The 25-year-old was knifed to death at a flat in Jessop Court, close to City Road basin, at the end of January.

Neighbours spoke of hearing screams on the night of Sunday, January 31. Ms Demiraj died at the scene.

Mr Demiraj, who lives close to the border with Kosovo, said his family had been “deprived of the love, happiness and her sweet smile that for 25 years never left her face, deprived... of life in the peak of her youth”.

Ms Demiraj moved to England with her fiancé three months before her death.

The case has shocked London’s Albanian community, who rallied round and raised almost £3,000 in less than 24 hours so that Ms Demiraj’s body could be returned home.

A vigil was held outside the flat a week after her death.

“This barbaric death really shocked the whole community,” said Luljeta Nuzi, who works for the Shpresa Programme, an advice organisation for the Albanian-speaking community in the UK which supported the Demiraj family.

“It is so sad that a young girl was killed in such a short period of time. She was a lovely, bubbly girl and a good daughter and sister.”

Ms Nuzi said many Albanians were shocked as they had been in Ms Demiraj’s position – of not being in the country long and knowing few people.

She added: “It has been really painful for her family. Their door was open for people to come to mourn but her body was not there.”

Her body has since been returned and the funeral was held earlier this month.

• Arben Rexha, 31, of Jessop Court, appeared at Highbury Magistrates’ Court in February charged with murder. He was remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey on April 21.