A 29-year-old man, accused of a brutal murder in December 2021 at Islev Torv (Islev Square) in Rødovre, Denmark, may avoid a prison sentence due to a severe brain injury he sustained in a traffic accident. In the Court of Glostrup (Retten i Glostrup), defense attorney Karoline Normann explained that the defendant is suffering from a degenerative condition that significantly impairs his cognitive abilities.
The 29-year-old man, who is facing charges alongside two other men, is currently in custody but resides at the psychiatric hospital Sct. Hans (St. Hans) in Roskilde. He is receiving medical treatment and awaiting to begin a rehabilitation program, which has been postponed due to the ongoing trial. The defense attorney emphasized that if her client appears tired or yawns during the proceedings, it is due to his need for 14 hours of sleep each day.
The three men are charged with the murder of a 17-year-old hairdressing student, as well as attempted murder of a 15-year-old boy and the salon’s owner. According to the prosecution, the crime was committed as part of a conflict between the gang NNV (New Nordic Vengeance) and a rival group, which could result in a life sentence.
However, the 29-year-old may receive an alternative form of punishment instead of imprisonment if the court determines that his brain injury renders him unfit for punishment. In the Danish legal system, individuals are not sentenced to prison if they have developed a mental illness at the time of the offense or subsequently, which makes them unsuitable for punishment.
The trial also includes a young Swedish man, who was under 18 at the time of the crime and therefore cannot receive a life sentence under the law. He is currently at liberty, as both the Court of Glostrup and the Eastern High Court (Østre Landsret) have previously ruled that there was insufficient evidence to detain him.
The oldest of the accused, a 31-year-old man, is the only one facing a potential life sentence. He denies the murder charges but admits to being a member of the NNV. A verdict in the case is expected to be delivered on October 31.