Man partially admits role in stalking case against Iris Helga Jónatansdóttir

A man in his 40s has partly admitted involvement in the case against Iris Helga Jónatansdóttir, acknowledging that he twice went to the home and car of her former boyfriend and his partner, mbl.is reports. The testimony was heard Tuesday at Reykjanes District Court, where the trial continued.

The man said he often passed the house on a route he travelled twice a week at the time, either by bicycle or unicycle. He admitted going to the couple’s home and car before Iris and in coordination with her, but denied any further involvement. He is accused of taking part in a three-month campaign of stalking against the couple from December 2023 to February 2024.

The man and Iris had worked together and were good friends, she said. Iris told him that her former boyfriend had falsely accused her of stalking and other offences. She said the situation had calmed down until the couple moved to the next street from her home.

Iris also said her former boyfriend had created fake social media accounts to send messages in her name and had reported her repeatedly to child protection authorities.

The man said he had not encouraged Iris’s actions in words or deeds. He said they had joked about ways to get back at the couple over what they believed was harassment of Iris. Among his suggestions were that she obtain fireworks to fire at the couple’s car or give her former boyfriend a prison uniform for Christmas, as they thought he was going to prison.

He said he had not taken their talk seriously until Iris told him her daughter had suffered a breakdown and was going to the Barnahús facility after her former boyfriend had allegedly abused her. The man said he then acted, but remembered little or nothing about the incidents. He described himself as usually calm and agreeable, and said he later withdrew from others, was put on leave from work, and struggled with anxiety and depression.

Iris is charged with stalking, defamatory allegations, document forgery, false accusations and offences under child protection laws. Many of the charges concern the couple, and the alleged offences are said to have targeted four adults and their children. She is accused, among other things, of publicly accusing a person of child sexual abuse and falsely accusing elementary school pupils of sexual offences and stalking. She has denied most of the charges.