Psychologist says Pétur feared for his life after Reykholt events

mbl.is reported that a psychologist who assessed defendant Pétur Már Mortensen Birgisson testified at South Iceland District Court on Thursday that Pétur had developed post traumatic stress disorder after the events in Reykholt.

The psychologist met Pétur for 15 sessions between August 2025 and March 2026 and diagnosed him with post traumatic stress disorder after three interviews. The psychologist said Pétur had felt that his life was in danger and experienced intense fear linked partly to his older brother, fellow defendant Andri Már Mortensen Birgisson.

“He feels that his life is in danger,” the psychologist told the court.

Pétur, the youngest of the defendants, had recently turned 18 in April 2024. He has previously told the court that he was afraid to intervene because of his brother and that he apologised to the victim while the events were taking place. He also said he had gone to Reykholt at his brother’s request early on the Saturday.

The court heard that Pétur had gaps in his memory concerning the days around the events. The psychologist said this could occur with post traumatic stress disorder when a person experiences a threat to their life. The brain can then partly take over through so called fright, flight or freeze responses.

Pétur also experienced suicidal thoughts after the events and while he was in prison. He had self harmed at least once and viewed suicide as a possible way out of his circumstances.

The psychologist said Pétur was in a better place now and no longer met the diagnostic criteria for post traumatic stress disorder. However, memories and experiences from the past would remain with him.

“These memories and experiences will never be taken away from him,” the psychologist said, adding that Pétur would need to continue taking sensible measures to ensure his own safety and address the consequences of the trauma.