A Greenlandic woman in her 20s was accused Thomas Møller Olsen, who is currently in custody suspected of having murdered Birna Brjánsdóttir, of rape in 2011. Thomas was acquitted of the charges in a court in Greenland.
Acquitted of raping an unconcious woman
The local newspaper Fréttablaðið reports that the incident took place in a party in 2011. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Fréttablaðið that she had been lying on a bed talking on the phone with her boyfriend. After they hung up she fell asleep. She then woke up to discover Thomas Møller was raping her. She was too intoxicated to stop him or fight him off.
Read more: Birna's cause of death was drowning. Body was found naked
The next morning she went to the police and a doctors examination confirmed that Thomas had had intercourse with her.
Thomas was accused of rape, but her testimony and the evidence did not suffice to secure a conviction, since a relative of Thomas who was at the party testified in court that the sex had been consensual.
She told Fréttablaðið that news of Birna's death and Thomas Møller's arrest have been extremely hard on her, as it has forced her to relive the trauma.
A culture of alcoholism, misogyny and violence
The case of Birna has opened a conversation in Greenland about the dangers of a misogynist culture of violence and alcoholism. An Icelandic woman who lives in Greenland wrote a blog post on the site of the Icelandic-Greenlandic Friendship Association where she describes the dangers of the tendency to silence the victims of sexual violence.
Women and girls are often forced to accept blame for the crimes committed against them. I hope that the tragic death of a young Icelandic woman can force people to deal with the silencing of violence and abuse, and by talking about this problem bring it to an end.
Thomas Møller acted alone
The man, who was a crew member of the Greenlandic trawler Polar Nanoq, was arrested on January 18 along with a fellow crew member, Nikolaj Olsen, who has since been released. The two men had been driving a red Kia Rio Birna entered in downtown Reykjavík at 5:25 AM on Saturday morning January 14.
Police believes Birna was murdered after 6:10 AM when Nikolaj is seen exiting the car on Hafnarfjörður harbour where the Polar Nanoq was harboured. After dropping off the other crew member Thomas drive the car to a secluded spot on the harbour where he spent 50 minutes. Birna's shoes were later found in the area. At 7:00 AM Thomas left the harbour area, returning at 11:30 AM. Birna's body was found on January 22 in the beach on the south coast of Reykjanes peninsula.
Police has not confirmed the cause of death or whether there are signs of her having been the victim of a sexual assault. According to the sources of the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service her cause of death was drowning, but her neck also shows signs of strangulation. Her body was naked when it was found.
The Metropolitan Police believes Thomas Møller acted alone.
Previous Iceland Insider coverage of the case:
We at Iceland Insider have been covering this horrible case since it first broke. Here is a rundown of our coverage to date
Tuesday Feb 7
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?
A Greenlandic woman in her 20s was accused Thomas Møller Olsen, who is currently in custody suspected of having murdered Birna Brjánsdóttir, of rape in 2011. Thomas was acquitted of the charges in a court in Greenland.
Acquitted of raping an unconcious woman
The local newspaper Fréttablaðið reports that the incident took place in a party in 2011. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Fréttablaðið that she had been lying on a bed talking on the phone with her boyfriend. After they hung up she fell asleep. She then woke up to discover Thomas Møller was raping her. She was too intoxicated to stop him or fight him off.
Read more: Birna's cause of death was drowning. Body was found naked
The next morning she went to the police and a doctors examination confirmed that Thomas had had intercourse with her.
Thomas was accused of rape, but her testimony and the evidence did not suffice to secure a conviction, since a relative of Thomas who was at the party testified in court that the sex had been consensual.
She told Fréttablaðið that news of Birna's death and Thomas Møller's arrest have been extremely hard on her, as it has forced her to relive the trauma.
A culture of alcoholism, misogyny and violence
The case of Birna has opened a conversation in Greenland about the dangers of a misogynist culture of violence and alcoholism. An Icelandic woman who lives in Greenland wrote a blog post on the site of the Icelandic-Greenlandic Friendship Association where she describes the dangers of the tendency to silence the victims of sexual violence.
Women and girls are often forced to accept blame for the crimes committed against them. I hope that the tragic death of a young Icelandic woman can force people to deal with the silencing of violence and abuse, and by talking about this problem bring it to an end.
Thomas Møller acted alone
The man, who was a crew member of the Greenlandic trawler Polar Nanoq, was arrested on January 18 along with a fellow crew member, Nikolaj Olsen, who has since been released. The two men had been driving a red Kia Rio Birna entered in downtown Reykjavík at 5:25 AM on Saturday morning January 14.
Police believes Birna was murdered after 6:10 AM when Nikolaj is seen exiting the car on Hafnarfjörður harbour where the Polar Nanoq was harboured. After dropping off the other crew member Thomas drive the car to a secluded spot on the harbour where he spent 50 minutes. Birna's shoes were later found in the area. At 7:00 AM Thomas left the harbour area, returning at 11:30 AM. Birna's body was found on January 22 in the beach on the south coast of Reykjanes peninsula.
Police has not confirmed the cause of death or whether there are signs of her having been the victim of a sexual assault. According to the sources of the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service her cause of death was drowning, but her neck also shows signs of strangulation. Her body was naked when it was found.
The Metropolitan Police believes Thomas Møller acted alone.
Previous Iceland Insider coverage of the case:
We at Iceland Insider have been covering this horrible case since it first broke. Here is a rundown of our coverage to date
Tuesday Feb 7
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?
