Court keeps baby abduction suspect in custody for four more weeks

A 37-year-old man accused of abducting a seven-month-old baby will remain in pre-trial detention for another four weeks, DR reports. A judge at Sønderborg District Court granted the prosecution’s request on Tuesday.

The baby was taken in March from a courtyard in Haderslev while sleeping in a pram. The child was found with the accused at Hotel Norden in Haderslev about an hour and a half later and was reunited with the parents.

The man is also charged with giving the baby cocaine and attempted rape. He has been held in pre-trial detention for nearly nine months and denies the charges.

Special prosecutor Anemarie Haahr told the court that the investigation is complete, but a mental health assessment from forensic psychiatry is still pending. She argued that the seriousness of the charges justified extending the detention.

The defence lawyer argued that the man should be released because the investigation was over and there was no risk of evidence being influenced. As an alternative, the defence asked for detention to be extended by only two weeks. The lawyer also said there was nothing to support the allegation that the man had given the baby cocaine.

The judge cited a particularly strong suspicion against the accused and the nature of the case in deciding to extend his detention. He did not speak in court and asked for time to consider whether to appeal the decision.

The prosecution said the case could be scheduled for trial and charges filed once the examination of the accused is ready.