Court orders accused man out during ex-wife’s testimony

An accused man must leave the courtroom while his former wife gives evidence in a case involving allegations of years of psychological abuse and threats against her and her son, mbl.is reported. The Landsréttur Court of Appeal on Tuesday upheld a ruling by Reykjanes District Court.

The indictment alleges that the man endangered the life, health and welfare of his then-wife and stepson through his conduct over more than seven years. He is accused of repeatedly threatening to beat his wife and calling her insulting names. On one occasion, he allegedly threatened to send men after his stepson and repeatedly called him a loser.

The woman told the court she had post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety following the relationship. A psychologist’s report said the man’s presence could undermine her ability to give a truthful account. Prosecutor Daníel Reynisson supported her request for the man to leave the courtroom while she testified.

The man argued that his former wife had already made serious allegations against him in police interviews and that feeling uncomfortable in his presence was not sufficient reason to exclude him. He also questioned the evidentiary value of the psychologist’s report, saying the psychologist knew about the case only through what the woman had said. He noted that the two had recently had various interactions, including going to the cinema and dining together.

The courts said reports from doctors or psychologists generally carry significant weight when deciding whether an accused person should be removed from the courtroom, although they do not automatically justify doing so. The woman described distress and difficulties in other interactions, the ruling said. The former couple share a child, and some of their communication concerns the child; the court found that their recent positive interactions did not outweigh the psychologist’s report.