Sterkaj released and deported after serving part of sentence

Angjelin Sterkaj, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for killing Armando Beqiari outside his home in Reykjavík in 2021, has been granted parole and deported, mbl.is reports.

Sterkaj is also banned from returning to Iceland. Ragna Bjarnadóttir, director of prisons, told Vísir that the deportation is based on a recent temporary amendment introduced by the minister of justice.

The amendment allows foreign prisoners who have been ordered to leave the country to receive parole after serving one third of their sentence.

Sterkaj shot Beqiari nine times outside his home in Reykjavík’s Rauðagerði neighbourhood in 2021. He was initially sentenced to 16 years in prison, but the Court of Appeal increased the sentence to 20 years. The Supreme Court later reduced it back to 16 years.