Witnesses fail to confirm Kareem was driving during Höfðatorg collision

Witnesses in the Höfðatorg case have not confirmed that Kareem M. M. Abufarhah was driving when a car struck the alleged victim in a parking garage, mbl.is reports.

The hearing largely focused on determining whether Kareem was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that was driven at high speed into the man. The victim was thrown onto the bonnet of a white Land Rover and then several metres onto the concrete floor of the garage.

Witnesses said Kareem had been driving the vehicle both before and after the collision, but none appeared willing or able to confirm that he was behind the wheel when the impact occurred.

Kareem’s defence is that he changed seats with another man before the vehicle hit the victim. He says the driver was changed while the vehicle was stopped, but he did not leave the car. Kareem has not been able to identify the man he says took over the driving.

Video footage shows the vehicle stopped shortly before it struck the man.

One witness said Kareem had changed seats with another man before the collision, but did not know who that man was. The witness said he had left the vehicle before the impact.

Another witness said Kareem was in the driver’s seat shortly after the car had come to a stop. That witness did not see the collision itself.

Several witnesses told the court that they either had not seen or did not know who was driving when the man was struck. They also said they had not seen whether anyone was carrying a weapon or witnessed the victim being stabbed.

One witness, who said he was a friend of Mohamed Sayidali Ahmed, was asked whether Mohamed had been carrying a weapon that evening. The witness said he did not know of Mohamed carrying a knife, but said he had been carrying a toothbrush.

“He always had that toothbrush,” the witness said. Mohamed is charged with stabbing the victim in the parking garage.

Mohamed’s defence lawyer, Sveinn Andri Sveinsson, asked whether the witness meant an “African toothbrush”.

“It is not only a toothbrush used in Africa, but also in Saudi Arabia. He always has this toothbrush. It gives him comfort,” the witness said.