Court gives man one year in prison for fatal assault at World Cup screening

A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to one year in prison for assaulting a Swedish man who later died, DR reported. Copenhagen City Court also imposed a one-year ban on entering nightlife venues. The defendant admitted guilt.

The assault took place on June 30 at a public screening on Islands Brygge in Copenhagen, where a World Cup match between Norway and Ivory Coast was being shown.

The court heard that the defendant stood on a bench and threw two beer cans towards a group of people, including 32-year-old Christian Zedig. He then punched Zedig forcefully on the left side of his head or neck.

The punch caused, among other injuries, a rupture of an artery. Zedig died on July 3.

The court said it had considered the nature and circumstances of the assault when setting the sentence. It said the defendant had acted aggressively and escalated the conflict, and noted that he had previously been convicted of attempted murder, rape and assault.