Defence challenges late evidence in Dettifoss drug trial

Disputes over the submission of investigative evidence continued at the main hearing in the Dettifoss case at Reykjavik District Court, mbl.is reports. The prosecution submitted a short report with photographs of amphetamine base, prompting an objection from defence lawyer Stefán Karl Kristjánsson.

Stefán Karl, who represents defendant Sævar Hilmarsson, said the material had previously been described by the prosecution as unavailable and that the defence had been unable to obtain it.

The court heard that the prosecution had only noticed the day before the hearing that photographs of the substances were missing from the case files. The photographs were then requested and shown to the defence on the morning the main hearing began.

On Thursday morning, Stefán Karl also objected to the prosecution’s request to call the defendants back for questioning about the newly submitted evidence. He argued that this was not permitted under the circumstances.

This is why my client made a statement, because we do not trust the prosecution, Stefán Karl said.

The prosecution responded that similar submissions of evidence had occurred many times in other criminal cases. It said the evidence was connected to the charges and had been submitted to help clarify the case.

The judge ruled that the evidence could be submitted. Stefán Karl objected to the decision and filed a formal statement, saying that if evidence could be submitted in this way, criminal procedure laws might as well be abolished.

The defendants may be called before the court again in connection with the evidence, but only if they choose to do so.

Four men charged

Four men are charged with a serious drug offence over the alleged import of 14.1 litres of amphetamine base from Germany to Iceland aboard the container ship Dettifoss last April.

The substances, with a concentration of 47 to 48 per cent, were concealed in four Absolut vodka bottles inside a bag on board the ship.

According to the indictment, Sævar Örn Hilmarsson and Kastriot Pepaj are accused of helping organise the import. They have largely denied the charges.

Two crew members are accused of receiving the substances in Bremerhaven, Germany, hiding them aboard Dettifoss and transporting them to Iceland. They have partly admitted to the offences but denied acting together.

Kastriot Pepaj testified in court on Wednesday and denied any connection to the case. He said he had never met the crew members before the arrests and did not know who was behind the Signal accounts.