Keani Hobbs (pictured), 18, of Basildon and a 16-year-old boy from Camberwell were both today convicted of Mr Meshi’s manslaughter following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court
A pair of teenagers have today
Tragic Vilson Meshi
The smoke from the device fatally filled Mr Meshi’s vehicle, making it almost impossible to escape the terrifying ordeal.
Keani Hobbs, 18, of Basildon and a 16-year-old boy from Camberwell – who cannot be named for legal reasons – were both today
Mr Meshi – originally from Albania – had travelled from his home near Manchester to Pitsea, Essex, to see his two children as his ex-Michelle Mehtab
The much-loved car wash owner parked up outside the home and went to sleep the night of February 26 last year but was killed yards his children’s home in the early hours of the next day.
His body was found in the back seat of the motor after Ms Mehtab realised he was missing.
She had even tapped on the car’s windows to see if anyone was in the car – unaware Mr Meshi owned it and he lay dead on the backseat.
Police arrived at 4.30pm, the body was discovered and a murder investigation was launched when the discarded remains of an Icarus flare were found near the car.
It later emerged the defendants stole the flares from Pitsea Marina.
Police also found bags and a bike similar to the ones being used by a suspicious character on CCTV in the area around Mr Meshi’s car.
Tragic Vilson Meshi (pictured), 31, died after a stolen marine flare was inexplicably thrown into his Audi A4 estate, causing a ‘powerful’ five-second blaze which could have burnt as hot as 1,200 degrees
A listening device was also used to gather intelligence on the pair and mobile phone data placed them in the same area.
During the trial, the youth gave evidence in his own defence and said Miss Hobbs was responsible for Mr Meshi’s death.
Miss Hobbs did not give evidence but a statement she made in her police interview where she denied the allegations was read to the court.
The pair will be sentenced tomorrow.
Mr Meshi’s parents, Islam and Drita Meshi, launching a damning attack on the defendants saying their hearts were ‘broken’.
They said: ‘We had three children who lived in the United Kingdom.
The smoke from the device fatally filled Mr Meshi’s vehicle, making it almost impossible to escape the terrifying ordeal. Pictured, the case of the flare thrown into the car
‘We now have two as our son, Vilson, was cruelly, unnecessarily, and mindlessly killed at the young age of 31 years, in a moment of unexplainable criminal madness whilst he slept in his car.
‘He was waiting to see two of his three children later that day but he never got to see later that day or his children again.
‘Vilson moved to the UK in 2000 and created a successful business employing 12 people.
‘But because of the stupid actions of those responsible for his death, there are three children that will grow up without their father, a wife without a husband, a brother and sister without their brother, a mother and father without their son and 12 people without jobs.
‘He was a good boy, never in trouble, a loving and caring man who would help anyone that needed it.
‘He was very popular and had a love of cars. He belonged to a GT car owners club.’
Mr Meshi’s funeral was held in a small town in Albania and more than 4,000 mourners attended, with many from the UK.
‘This was the biggest funeral ever held there, which goes some way to showing how much he was loved in life and missed in death.
Speaking after today’s verdict Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Jennings of Essex Police said: ‘This was a complex investigation and we have been determined to find the truth behind the events that led to Mr Meshi’s tragic death’
‘Vilson is dead below the ground but we are dead above the ground, our hearts are broken.
‘For us, this tragic event has been made so much more difficult to deal with as we live in Albania and have had to regularly come to the UK over the last 18 months.
‘We have sat quietly, patiently, calmly, with dignity, for four weeks listening to evidence in the trial of our son’s killers.
‘No matter what the verdict, it will never bring our son Vilson home or make us feel better about what happened that February morning in 2016.
‘What happened has changed our lives forever and probably the lives of the two defendants’ families as well,’ the added.
Speaking after today’s verdict Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Jennings of Essex Police said: ‘This was a complex investigation and we have been determined to find the truth behind the events that led to Mr Meshi’s tragic death.
‘Keani Hobbs and the teenage boy consistently denied any involvement and blamed each other during the trial.
‘They have shown no remorse for their actions.’
Mr Meshi’s parents, Islam and Drita Meshi, launching a damning attack on the defendants saying their hearts were ‘broken’. Pictured, the type of flare thrown into the car
Paul Scothern for the CPS said: ‘The pair denied stealing marine distress flares from Wat Tyler Marina, Basildon, then several days later they threw a lit flare into the car where Mr Meshi was sleeping outside his partner’s home.
‘A marine distress flare burns at an incredibly high temperature and the consequences of throwing a lit flare into an enclosed space such as the car where Mr Meshi was asleep was shocking – tragically he died as a result.
‘We were satisfied when reviewing the case that there was sufficient evidence that both were jointly responsible for the theft of the flares and also for Mr Meshi’s death. We believed there was no deliberate intention to kill Mr Meshi and that the appropriate charge against them both was one of manslaughter, rather than murder.’
‘The jury had to decide whether either of them or both were responsible for Mr Meshi’s death.
‘After hearing all the evidence they have found both of them guilty of manslaughter and theft.
‘We hope Mr Meshi’s family and friends can take some comfort from the verdicts and our thoughts are with them.’