An Italian national with a criminal history that includes a murder conviction in Italy is set to be deported from the United Kingdom after a lengthy appeals process, a UK immigration tribunal has been told.

The individual, identified in court as FJ, was born in Morocco in 1971 and served 12 years in an Italian prison for killing a mafia member with a metal object. He arrived in the UK in 2015 and subsequently worked as a chef at a pub in Oxford, where he developed a personal relationship with the business owner.

During his time in the UK, FJ accrued multiple convictions related to serious drug offences. Additionally, he faced an allegation of rape made by a former partner. The tribunal described FJ as having a “propensity for violence,” a factor that informed the decision to remove him from the country.

The deportation order follows nearly seven years of legal appeals that sought to prevent his removal. The most recent hearing took place before a judge at the immigration and asylum tribunal, where authorities presented evidence of his criminal background and behavior since arriving in Britain.

The case highlights challenges in balancing immigration enforcement with considerations related to an individual’s history and conduct while residing in the UK. While advocates for FJ reportedly contested the deportation, arguing factors related to his integration into the local community and personal circumstances, the tribunal ultimately ruled in favor of expelling him.

No further details about the timing or destination of the deportation have been disclosed. The judgment underscores the UK’s stance on removing individuals deemed a threat to public safety, particularly those with serious criminal convictions domestically and abroad.