Man accused in fatal assault at World Cup screening stays in custody

A 31-year-old man accused of assaulting a Swedish man at a World Cup public viewing event in Copenhagen will remain in remand custody for another four weeks, DR reports. The man agreed to the extension voluntarily, his defence lawyer, Thomas Brædder, confirmed to Ritzau.

As a result, there will be no hearing at the Copenhagen City Court on Wednesday to decide whether the man should remain in custody.

The incident occurred on 30 June at a public screening event at Islands Brygge, where a match between Norway and Ivory Coast was shown. The 31-year-old is accused of knocking down a 32-year-old Swedish man, who hit his head as he fell and later died from his injuries.

Police have charged the man under Section 244 of Denmark’s Criminal Code, the provision covering less serious assault. The deceased man was employed by the Swedish police but attended the event as a private individual.

The case has prompted political debate in Denmark. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said last week that the alleged perpetrator had displayed “almost psychopathic behaviour” and should receive a harsher sentence than the prosecution is seeking.

The prosecutor previously said the 31-year-old faced a prison sentence of between eight and 10 months. The government has said it will seek tougher penalties under Section 244 when the victim dies and the perpetrator has previously committed violent crime.

Two other men were charged last week in connection with assaults on Swedes at the event. A 24-year-old Danish national is accused of stamping on the 32-year-old Swedish man while he was on the ground and of hitting another Swedish national. He was released after questioning.

A 29-year-old Somali national is accused of kicking the second Swedish man. Police charged him by telephone and through his defence lawyer after failing to locate him. He is also accused of violating an entry ban imposed in an earlier case. Copenhagen Police had still not found him as of Tuesday.

Police have said the three cases will be handled separately because there is no information that the men acted together. The 31-year-old in custody came to Denmark from Congo as an infant and is a Danish citizen.