An appeals court has confirmed the guilty verdict over Thomasi Møller Olsen, the Greenlandic sailor who killed 20 year old Birna Brjánsdóttir in January 2017. The court also confirmed the 19 year prison sentence over Thomas for the January 14 murder of Birna and drugs trafficking. Thomas had claimed innocence and attempted to shift blame onto another Greenlandic sailor.
The heinous murder is one of the most talked about crimes in Icelandic history.
Read more: Thomas Møller Olsen sentenced to 19 years in prison for murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir, drug smuggling
Birna Brjánsdóttir disappeared on the evening of January 13. She was last seen entering a rental car driven by Thomas, a sailor onboard a Greenlandic trawler on shore leave in Reykjavík. Thomas assaulted Birna, then dumped her naked body in the ocean.
Thomas was found guilty in September 2017 by the District Court of Reykjanes. He appealed the verdict, claiming innocence. His defense attorney argued that there were numerous unanswered questions in the case, arguing the prosecution had not been able to decisively map out Thomas' movements on the night of the murder. Thomas attempted to shift blame to another sailor, Nikolaj Olsen, who was in the car with Thomas and Birna. Despite these attempts to shift blame to Nikolaj, the defense did not call him as witness.
The prosecution rejected Thomas' account as fantastical and outrageous. The prosecution argued that Thomas' attempts to pin the blame on an innocent man should count against him, and lead to a harsher sentence.
We at Iceland Insider covered the case closely:
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?
An appeals court has confirmed the guilty verdict over Thomasi Møller Olsen, the Greenlandic sailor who killed 20 year old Birna Brjánsdóttir in January 2017. The court also confirmed the 19 year prison sentence over Thomas for the January 14 murder of Birna and drugs trafficking. Thomas had claimed innocence and attempted to shift blame onto another Greenlandic sailor.
The heinous murder is one of the most talked about crimes in Icelandic history.
Read more: Thomas Møller Olsen sentenced to 19 years in prison for murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir, drug smuggling
Birna Brjánsdóttir disappeared on the evening of January 13. She was last seen entering a rental car driven by Thomas, a sailor onboard a Greenlandic trawler on shore leave in Reykjavík. Thomas assaulted Birna, then dumped her naked body in the ocean.
Thomas was found guilty in September 2017 by the District Court of Reykjanes. He appealed the verdict, claiming innocence. His defense attorney argued that there were numerous unanswered questions in the case, arguing the prosecution had not been able to decisively map out Thomas' movements on the night of the murder. Thomas attempted to shift blame to another sailor, Nikolaj Olsen, who was in the car with Thomas and Birna. Despite these attempts to shift blame to Nikolaj, the defense did not call him as witness.
The prosecution rejected Thomas' account as fantastical and outrageous. The prosecution argued that Thomas' attempts to pin the blame on an innocent man should count against him, and lead to a harsher sentence.
We at Iceland Insider covered the case closely:
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?
