Witness says group sought money from Kársnes homicide victim

A man who describes himself as Georgios Ntantes’ best friend told a court that a group of men had visited Ntantes and another friend while looking for the man who later died, hoping to get money from him. The testimony was reported by mbl.is.

The witness, who gave evidence by phone at Reykjanes District Court, said he believed the group had been involved in the case in some way. He said the men had come armed with knives on one occasion, adding: “These are not good men.”

Ntantes is charged in the Kársnes case. The witness said he had a good relationship with him and noticed no change in his behaviour before his arrest in early December last year.

The witness also said he had known the deceased, describing him as a good man when they worked together. He said the deceased had changed workplaces about four years ago and that he noticed changes in his personality after the man began using drugs. The witness added that he had heard the deceased was importing drugs from Portugal.

Prosecutor Karl Ingi Vilbergsson is seeking a 16-year prison sentence for Ntantes. He argued that the attack was intentional and that the victim’s body showed it had been violent and brutal.

Defence lawyer Ómar Örn Bjarnþórsson is seeking Ntantes’ acquittal and dismissal of the case, arguing that the prosecution has not proved that a homicide took place.