A MOTHER-OF-TWO is today hoping to be reunited with the husband she is fighting to clear of murder.

Edmond Arapi, a chef at the Travellers' Rest in Leekbrook, was arrested at Gatwick Airport last Tuesday in connection with a killing in Italy in 2004.

The 29-year-old Albanian, who has lived in Leek for nine years, is being held at Wandsworth Prison, London, ahead of today's extradition hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.

His Leek-born wife Georgina has been told by their solicitor he may be granted bail and allowed to return to the family home in Langford Street.

Mrs Arapi insists her husband was working at the former Cafe Davide, in Getliffe's Yard, Leek, on the day of the killing.

And she claims that he has never even visited Italy. The 26-year-old said: "I have a document which shows that around the time of the murder, Edmond took a food delivery at the restaurant. His signature is there in black and white. His wage slip shows he did a full week.

"The only explanation is there is another Edmond Arapi – a surname which is as common as Smith or Jones in Albania – who shares the same date of birth, or someone is pretending to be him.

"The solicitor has told us that the best we can hope for at this stage is bail but that is not guaranteed. I just want to be able to see him again."

The couple, pictured – who met while they were both studying at Stoke-on-Trent College in 2001 – had been on a four-week holiday visiting family in Albania with their children Maria, aged six, and two-year-old Sarina.

Since the arrest, they have only managed a few snatched conversations.

Mrs Arapi said: "He's told me he doesn't know what's going on.

"The Italians are yet to come up with any proof and we hope to be able to present our evidence in court to show he was in the UK.

"The last few days have been completely distressing. I'm in shock. The children are suffering. We miss him so much."

Mike Muir, Mr Arapi's former employer at Cafe Davide, has been scouring his paperwork to see if he can find more documents to provide Mr Arapi with an alibi.

He said: "We understand how distressed Georgina has been.

"We are doing all we can to show he was working on that date."

Paul Hughes, who took over the Travellers' Rest two months ago, had only known Mr Arapi for three weeks when his wife phoned to explain why he wouldn't be in work.

Mr Hughes said: "According to what Georgina's told us, these accusations are utterly unfounded. We were all shocked. He's an important member of the team. We will be keeping his position open for him."

Mr Arapi was granted indefinite leave to stay in England in March, after years of wrangling over visas.

A Home Office spokesman confirmed: "Mr Arapi was arrested on a European arrest warrant after a request by the Italian authorities. He is currently going through the extradition process."