A CHEF convicted of a murder in Italy was sentenced to 19 years in prison in his absence.

Details of the jail term emerged as Edmond Arapi faced the final stages of the court proceedings which will decide if he is to be extradited over the killing.

Albanian-born Mr Arapi, of Leek, says he can prove he was in the UK at the time of the 2004 murder.

But a trial held without his knowledge four years ago found him guilty of the offence and he was sentenced to 19 years in jail.

A further hearing the following year saw that sentence reduced to 16 years.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court yesterday, Mr Arapi attended the 10th hearing to determine if he will go back to Italy for a retrial.

District Judge Howard Riddle decided complications in Italian and European law meant his final decision will be delayed until April 9.

Gemma Linfield, representing the Italian court, said: "In order to reopen proceedings in Italy, Mr Arapi must show he was not deliberately absent.

"This is at a judge's discretion. If new evidence is available, any judge would apply that discretion."

Mr Arapi, whose wife Georgina is expecting his third child in May, wants to travel to Italy to clear his name.

But he says he is afraid that he would not be given the opportunity of a fair retrial.

The 29-year-old, of Langford Street, says he has lived in England since 2001, and has only visited Italy in 1996 and 1999.

He believes he can prove he was working in former Leek restaurant Cafe Davide on the day of the killing.

Mr Arapi's representative Julia Fourwalker told the court: "I submit it is an unfair system in Italy, where it is so easy to be tried and convicted in your absence without any knowledge at all. In Italy he has never been given the opportunity to submit his evidence.

"There are inherent safeguards in our British system so that this would be impossible. There is no guarantee Mr Arapi would get his retrial."

Speaking after the hearing, the father-of-two, who now works at The Travellers Rest pub in Leekbrook, told The Sentinel: "I was hoping for the final decision, but the judge says there are complications to consider.

"He seemed to listen and seemed to be concerned about the fairness of the Italian system, and that my right to appeal would be left to the discretion of a judge.

"I want to prove my innocence in a fair retrial by presenting my evidence to prove I was in work on that day. But if I won't get that chance, I know it's better to stay here than try to appeal the conviction in Italy in my absence.

"I know in my conscience I haven't done it and I have faith it will be proved in the end."

Georgina, aged 26, said: "It's been going on for so long now I just expected it to be delayed again.

"It's very frustrating. We're just sick of it all."