Young offender serving sentence at transitional facility Vernd

Elvar Már Magnússon, who was convicted of killing Bryndís Klara Birgisdóttir, has been transferred to Vernd, a transitional facility where he is now serving his sentence, mbl.is reports.

Magnússon was sentenced to eight years in prison in April last year for homicide and two attempted homicides. He attacked three young people with a knife during Menningarnótt in 2024, and Bryndís Klara died from her injuries a week later.

He was 16 when he committed the offences. He began serving his sentence at Stuðlar, a treatment facility, before being transferred to Lækjarbakki, where he spent several months. He then moved to Vernd.

Ragna Bjarnadóttir, director-general of the Icelandic Prison and Probation Administration, said about one-third of prison sentences given to young offenders are generally short. Authorities nevertheless try to organise sentences in stages, she said.

“The whole point is to prepare these individuals as well as possible for their return to society,” Ragna told Morgunblaðið.

Young offenders serving longer sentences who begin their sentences under the child protection authorities may also be subject to cooperation between those authorities and the Prison and Probation Administration. The aim is to arrange their sentences safely while supporting their return to society, Ragna said.

Under Icelandic law, eight years is the maximum sentence for an offence committed before the age of 18. Prisoners under 21 can apply for parole after serving one-third of their sentence. In this case, that amounts to just over two and a half years.