Court keeps man suspected of repeated rapes and serious violence detained

The Court of Appeal has upheld the continued detention of a man suspected of serious violent and sexual offences against his partner, mbl.is reported. He will remain in custody until 4 December at the latest.

The man had asked the court to overturn the detention order or place him in an appropriate mental health institution instead. The Court of Appeal upheld a ruling issued by the District Court of Northeast Iceland on 6 November, referring to its reasoning.

An investigation by police in Northeast Iceland began in late August. According to a police report, the woman described years of physical and sexual abuse, as well as controlling and coercive behaviour. The report says the man admitted in earlier interviews to repeatedly raping and seriously assaulting her, and to controlling and coercing her and their children.

Investigators have obtained medical records and examined a mobile phone. The couple’s children gave statements at Barnahús, where children are interviewed, and reportedly described seeing and hearing the man abuse their mother.

During a third police interview on 29 October, the man withdrew his earlier statements and denied abusing the woman. He said, among other things, that he had been under the influence of medication during the previous interviews.

The District Court found that his earlier admissions were still supported by evidence gathered during the investigation. It said medical records did not conclusively rule out that his condition could have been consistent with his account of taking medication. The court said its assessment of his credibility did not turn on whether he had been truthful about his medication use in late August.

The man has been held in custody on public-interest grounds since 12 September. The District Court found there was still strong suspicion that he had committed offences carrying a possible sentence of up to 16 years in prison, and that their nature and seriousness warranted continued detention. It also found the case had been handled at an adequate pace. At the district court hearing, police said the investigation was nearing completion.