Copenhagen court rules US tourists acted in self-defence against taxi driver

A Copenhagen district court on Thursday acquitted two American men of assault charges after ruling their confrontation with a taxi driver last year was an act of self-defence, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

The pair, now aged 22 and 20, had spent 15 days in pretrial detention and were forced to surrender their passports for an additional 10 days following their arrest in March 2025. They faced up to 60 days in prison if convicted under Denmark’s aggravated assault provisions for violence against workers in vulnerable professions.

The court found that while the younger man had struck the driver, he had done so in self-defence after the driver acted aggressively, according to defence attorney Eigil Strand. The older man was cleared of any intent to use violence, with the court determining he had attempted to break up the altercation.

Both men had travelled voluntarily from the US to attend this week’s proceedings before returning home. Their lawyers confirmed the 14-month legal ordeal—including prolonged passport confiscation and financial strain—had taken a heavy toll on the defendants and their families.

Mads Kruse, attorney for the 22-year-old, announced plans to pursue compensation for wrongful detention. Prosecutors have two weeks to decide whether to appeal the verdict.