Thomas Møller Olsen, the Greenlandic sailor who has been charged with the brutal murder of 20 year old local girl, Birna Brjánsdóttir on January 14, could get up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty of the crimes he has been charged with. Thomas Møller is charged with murder in the first degree, as well as drug trafficking. Police found 23.4 kg (51.6 lbs) of pressed hashish blocks in his cabin on board the trawler Polar Nanoq.
20 years in prison
Thomas Møller has denied having attacked or killed Birna Brjánsdóttir. He had admitted to having smuggled the drugs during interrogation by police, but when he appeared in court yesterday he denied this charge as well. The prosecutor in the case told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV she was surprised by Thomas' reversal on the drugs trafficking charges, as he had already confessed to those charges at previous stages.
If he is found guilty of both charges he could be facing 20 years in prison, according to a legal expert who spoke to the local newspaper Fréttablaðið.
The maximum sentence for murder in Iceland is life in prison. The maximum sentence has never been used, however, and in practice the maximum prison sentence in Iceland is 16 years, which can be considered a likely sentence in this case. In cases where offenders are sentenced for several crimes Icelandic courts frequently order the different sentences to be served concurrently. In cases where the crimes are particularly serious the law allows for longer sentences, up to 20 years in this case.
The prosecutor told RÚV that she expected the trial to start in May.
Picked up Birna in downtown Reykjavík
Thomas Møller has always maintained he is innocent of the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir, the 20 year old local girl. Birna disappeared early Saturday morning January 14. She was last seen on security camera footage enter a red Kia Rio which Thomas Møller had rented. Her phone later went dead near the location where the trawler Polar Nanoq was harboured. Thomas was a crew member on the trawler.
He is seen behaving strangely on security camera footage after Birna's phone went dead, her ID was later found in his cabin onboard the trawler, and her shoes were discovered at harbour near where the trawler was docked. A second crew member was in the car with Thomas when he lured Birna into the car. This man was originally held on suspicion of involvement in the crime, but he was later released. This second sailor was severely intoxicated at the time. He told police that Thomas had later attempted to confuse him about what had happened in the car.
Brutal murder, previous rape charges
Police believes Thomas attacked Birna while the car was parked on the docks, beating her repeatedly in the face and head, breaking her nose and strangling her. Bruises on her body indicate a violent attack. Blood from Birna was found in the car. He is charged with having then thrown her unconscious into the sea, causing her to drown. Her naked body was later discovered in the rocky shore of Reykjanes peninsula.
Thomas Møller has previously been accused of raping an unconscious woman in Greenland, but was acquitted by a judge after one of Thomas' friends claimed the unconscious woman had consented.
Iceland Insider coverage of the case
Iceland magazine covered the case in detail as it unfolded in January. You can read our previous coverage here:
Monday April 10
The details of the charge against Thomas Møller revealed
Read more: Greenlandic sailor accused of beating Birna before throwing her unconscious into ocean
Friday Mar 31
Thomas Møller is formally charged with the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir
Read more: Greenlandic sailor has been charged with the murder of 20 year old Birna Brjánsdóttir
Tuesday Feb 7
Thomas Møller had previously been acquitted of raping an unconscious woman in Greenland
Read more: Man in custody suspected of murdering 20 year old local girl has previously been accused of rape
The cause of death, other disturbing details about Birna's death revealed.
Read more: Birna's cause of death was drowning. Body was found naked.
Monday Feb 6
Police has reportedly pieced together what happened on Saturday January 14.
Read more: Police believe they know when, where and how Birna was killed: Suspect in custody yet to confess
Search for clues near the place where Birna's body was found turns up empty
Read more: Case of Birna Brjánsdóttir: Hundreds participated in search for clues over the weekend
Thursday Feb 2
Police now believes only one of the men originally arrested on connection to Birna's disappearance is responsible for her death.
Read more: One of two men held in connection to murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir released from custody
Monday Jan 30:
Thousands participate in a memorial service for Birna
Read more: Video: A large crowd gathered in Reykjavík on Saturday to remember Birna Brjánsdóttir
Wednesday Jan 25:
More details emerge of what happened during the hours leading up to Birna's disappearance
Tuesday Jan 24:
Police found Birna's ID on board the Greenlandic trawler.
Read more: Police found murdered girl’s ID on board Greenlandic trawler: Suspects interrogated today
The identity of the two suspects revealed by local media.
Read more: The identity of the two men suspected of murdering 20 year old Birna Brjánsdóttir revealed
Monday Jan 23:
Many unanswered questions despite the discovery of Birna's body
Sunday Jan 22:
Birna's body was found eight days after she was discovered missing.
Read more: Body of missing girl found: All evidence points to murder by two Greenlandic fishermen
Friday Jan 20
More details about the drug find on-board the Greenlandic trawler.
Read more: Forensic search of Greenlandic trawler: 20-40 kg (44-88 lbs) of hash blocks found
Police believes the two men held in custody are responsible for the murder of Birna.
Read more: Two sailors from Greenlandic trawler suspected of murder, search for missing girl continues
Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway while the search for Birna continues.
Read more: Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway due to disappearance of local girl
Thursday Jan 19
Police discover large quantities of drugs on-board the trawler, arresting a fourth man.
Read more: Fourth man arrested after large quantities of drugs discovered on board Greenlandic trawler
Police reveals that evidence from the a red Kia Rio the sailors had rented from Friday to Saturday pointed to a violent crime.
Read more: Missing girl: Evidence from car rented by crew members of Greenlandic trawler points to a crime
More arrests on-board the ship, which arrived in harbour at 23:07 on Wednesday
Read more: Video: Third sailor on Greenlandic trawler arrested and taken for questioning over missing girl
Wednesday Jan 18
Police arrested two men on board the trawler.
Read more: Two arrested on-board Greenlandic trawler in connection to missing girl
Police officers and members of the Police Special Forces were flown out to the Danish Coast Guard vessel HDMS Triton which was on intercept course with the Polar Nanoq.
Read more: Missing girl: Members of the Police Special Forces on their way to Greenlandic trawler
The case has gripped the Icelandic nation. Police warns people to avoid of hysteria.
Read more: Airing of British TV series The Missing postponed while search continues for missing girl
Security camera footage from Hafnarfjörður harbour shows crew members exiting the red Kia Rio, behaving suspiciously. The trawler was returned to harbour in Reykjavík.
Read more: Missing girl: Disturbing clues, no arrests, but Greenlandic trawler returned to harbour in Iceland
Tuesday Jan 17
The car was linked to crew members of Greenlandic trawler which had been docked in Hafnarfjörður from Wednesday to Saturday. The trawler had sailed out and was fishing off the east coast of Greenland.
Tuesday afternoon Police found what it believes is the red Kia Rio seen in security camera footage just seconds before she was last spotted on CCTV footage in down town Reykjavík. The car was likely driven by foreign nationals. The driver is seen behaving suspiciously shortly after Birna's cell phone is turned off at 5:50 AM.
Read more: Missing woman: Car seen in surveillance tapes likely found, driver seen behaving strangely
Shoes which match those worn by Birna were found early Tuesday morning in Hafnafjörður, south of Reykjavík. Police does not rule out the shoes were planted at the scene. All available Police and Search and Rescue members are searching in and around Hafnafjörður harbour.
Read more: Police does not rule out that pair of shoes believed to belong to missing woman were planted
Police released CCTV footage of Birna walking in downtown Reykjavík on Monday.
Read more: Search for missing young woman: Police releases footage from surveillance cameras
Monday Jan 16
A large scale search had been underway since Saturday for 20 year old local woman. Police feared foul play.
Read more: Young local woman missing since Saturday: Have you seen her?
Thomas Møller Olsen, the Greenlandic sailor who has been charged with the brutal murder of 20 year old local girl, Birna Brjánsdóttir on January 14, could get up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty of the crimes he has been charged with. Thomas Møller is charged with murder in the first degree, as well as drug trafficking. Police found 23.4 kg (51.6 lbs) of pressed hashish blocks in his cabin on board the trawler Polar Nanoq.
20 years in prison
Thomas Møller has denied having attacked or killed Birna Brjánsdóttir. He had admitted to having smuggled the drugs during interrogation by police, but when he appeared in court yesterday he denied this charge as well. The prosecutor in the case told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV she was surprised by Thomas' reversal on the drugs trafficking charges, as he had already confessed to those charges at previous stages.
If he is found guilty of both charges he could be facing 20 years in prison, according to a legal expert who spoke to the local newspaper Fréttablaðið.
The maximum sentence for murder in Iceland is life in prison. The maximum sentence has never been used, however, and in practice the maximum prison sentence in Iceland is 16 years, which can be considered a likely sentence in this case. In cases where offenders are sentenced for several crimes Icelandic courts frequently order the different sentences to be served concurrently. In cases where the crimes are particularly serious the law allows for longer sentences, up to 20 years in this case.
The prosecutor told RÚV that she expected the trial to start in May.
Picked up Birna in downtown Reykjavík
Thomas Møller has always maintained he is innocent of the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir, the 20 year old local girl. Birna disappeared early Saturday morning January 14. She was last seen on security camera footage enter a red Kia Rio which Thomas Møller had rented. Her phone later went dead near the location where the trawler Polar Nanoq was harboured. Thomas was a crew member on the trawler.
He is seen behaving strangely on security camera footage after Birna's phone went dead, her ID was later found in his cabin onboard the trawler, and her shoes were discovered at harbour near where the trawler was docked. A second crew member was in the car with Thomas when he lured Birna into the car. This man was originally held on suspicion of involvement in the crime, but he was later released. This second sailor was severely intoxicated at the time. He told police that Thomas had later attempted to confuse him about what had happened in the car.
Brutal murder, previous rape charges
Police believes Thomas attacked Birna while the car was parked on the docks, beating her repeatedly in the face and head, breaking her nose and strangling her. Bruises on her body indicate a violent attack. Blood from Birna was found in the car. He is charged with having then thrown her unconscious into the sea, causing her to drown. Her naked body was later discovered in the rocky shore of Reykjanes peninsula.
Thomas Møller has previously been accused of raping an unconscious woman in Greenland, but was acquitted by a judge after one of Thomas' friends claimed the unconscious woman had consented.
Iceland Insider coverage of the case
Iceland magazine covered the case in detail as it unfolded in January. You can read our previous coverage here:
Monday April 10
The details of the charge against Thomas Møller revealed
Read more: Greenlandic sailor accused of beating Birna before throwing her unconscious into ocean
Friday Mar 31
Thomas Møller is formally charged with the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir
Read more: Greenlandic sailor has been charged with the murder of 20 year old Birna Brjánsdóttir
Tuesday Feb 7
Thomas Møller had previously been acquitted of raping an unconscious woman in Greenland
Read more: Man in custody suspected of murdering 20 year old local girl has previously been accused of rape
The cause of death, other disturbing details about Birna's death revealed.
Read more: Birna's cause of death was drowning. Body was found naked.
Monday Feb 6
Police has reportedly pieced together what happened on Saturday January 14.
Read more: Police believe they know when, where and how Birna was killed: Suspect in custody yet to confess
Search for clues near the place where Birna's body was found turns up empty
Read more: Case of Birna Brjánsdóttir: Hundreds participated in search for clues over the weekend
Thursday Feb 2
Police now believes only one of the men originally arrested on connection to Birna's disappearance is responsible for her death.
Read more: One of two men held in connection to murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir released from custody
Monday Jan 30:
Thousands participate in a memorial service for Birna
Read more: Video: A large crowd gathered in Reykjavík on Saturday to remember Birna Brjánsdóttir
Wednesday Jan 25:
More details emerge of what happened during the hours leading up to Birna's disappearance
Tuesday Jan 24:
Police found Birna's ID on board the Greenlandic trawler.
Read more: Police found murdered girl’s ID on board Greenlandic trawler: Suspects interrogated today
The identity of the two suspects revealed by local media.
Read more: The identity of the two men suspected of murdering 20 year old Birna Brjánsdóttir revealed
Monday Jan 23:
Many unanswered questions despite the discovery of Birna's body
Sunday Jan 22:
Birna's body was found eight days after she was discovered missing.
Read more: Body of missing girl found: All evidence points to murder by two Greenlandic fishermen
Friday Jan 20
More details about the drug find on-board the Greenlandic trawler.
Read more: Forensic search of Greenlandic trawler: 20-40 kg (44-88 lbs) of hash blocks found
Police believes the two men held in custody are responsible for the murder of Birna.
Read more: Two sailors from Greenlandic trawler suspected of murder, search for missing girl continues
Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway while the search for Birna continues.
Read more: Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway due to disappearance of local girl
Thursday Jan 19
Police discover large quantities of drugs on-board the trawler, arresting a fourth man.
Read more: Fourth man arrested after large quantities of drugs discovered on board Greenlandic trawler
Police reveals that evidence from the a red Kia Rio the sailors had rented from Friday to Saturday pointed to a violent crime.
Read more: Missing girl: Evidence from car rented by crew members of Greenlandic trawler points to a crime
More arrests on-board the ship, which arrived in harbour at 23:07 on Wednesday
Read more: Video: Third sailor on Greenlandic trawler arrested and taken for questioning over missing girl
Wednesday Jan 18
Police arrested two men on board the trawler.
Read more: Two arrested on-board Greenlandic trawler in connection to missing girl
Police officers and members of the Police Special Forces were flown out to the Danish Coast Guard vessel HDMS Triton which was on intercept course with the Polar Nanoq.
Read more: Missing girl: Members of the Police Special Forces on their way to Greenlandic trawler
The case has gripped the Icelandic nation. Police warns people to avoid of hysteria.
Read more: Airing of British TV series The Missing postponed while search continues for missing girl
Security camera footage from Hafnarfjörður harbour shows crew members exiting the red Kia Rio, behaving suspiciously. The trawler was returned to harbour in Reykjavík.
Read more: Missing girl: Disturbing clues, no arrests, but Greenlandic trawler returned to harbour in Iceland
Tuesday Jan 17
The car was linked to crew members of Greenlandic trawler which had been docked in Hafnarfjörður from Wednesday to Saturday. The trawler had sailed out and was fishing off the east coast of Greenland.
Tuesday afternoon Police found what it believes is the red Kia Rio seen in security camera footage just seconds before she was last spotted on CCTV footage in down town Reykjavík. The car was likely driven by foreign nationals. The driver is seen behaving suspiciously shortly after Birna's cell phone is turned off at 5:50 AM.
Read more: Missing woman: Car seen in surveillance tapes likely found, driver seen behaving strangely
Shoes which match those worn by Birna were found early Tuesday morning in Hafnafjörður, south of Reykjavík. Police does not rule out the shoes were planted at the scene. All available Police and Search and Rescue members are searching in and around Hafnafjörður harbour.
Read more: Police does not rule out that pair of shoes believed to belong to missing woman were planted
Police released CCTV footage of Birna walking in downtown Reykjavík on Monday.
Read more: Search for missing young woman: Police releases footage from surveillance cameras
Monday Jan 16
A large scale search had been underway since Saturday for 20 year old local woman. Police feared foul play.
Read more: Young local woman missing since Saturday: Have you seen her?
