Defence says Dettifoss crew members were drug mules

Defence lawyers for two crew members in the Dettifoss case asked the court on Friday to impose the least severe sentences allowed by law, mbl.is reported. They said the men were at the bottom of the chain, acted on instructions and helped police investigate the case through confessions and clear testimony.

Prosecutors have requested seven-year prison sentences for the two crew members.

Unnsteinn Örn Elvarsson, who represents one of the men, said his client was 21 when the trip took place and was therefore young. He had confessed from his first interrogation and had been honest in his testimony, the lawyer said.

The crew members had received instructions about what to do and had no contact with suppliers of the substances abroad, Unnsteinn said. His client told the court that he had “panicked” when he received the substances in Germany and realised that the amount was much greater than expected.

Unnsteinn said his client should not be portrayed as the main person in the case and objected to him being considered an accomplice, arguing that the legal requirements for that classification had not been met. He requested a sentence of two to three years, citing his client’s confession and his clear testimony during the investigation.

Sveinn Andri Sveinsson, who represents the other crew member, also requested the minimum sentence allowed by law. He said his client had admitted to his own involvement but had not wanted to comment on the role of others.

The man had agreed to transport an unspecified quantity of unspecified substances, Sveinn Andri said, but realised that the activity was illegal.

He also highlighted the crew members’ accounts of the substances’ packaging. Photographs of the bottles had not been shown to them during the investigation, he said. When the photographs were presented during the main trial, the men were surprised and certain that the bottles they had received had been smaller and unmarked.

Sveinn Andri said there was no reason to doubt their account. Although he described the circumstances as unusual, he said it was clear that both crew members had been “mules” in the case.

Citing other court rulings, Sveinn Andri said a sentence of two years for the crew members would be appropriate.