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Trial of Greenlandic sailor who's accused of murdering 20 yo local girl begins with fantastical testimony 6894

13. mar 2023 20:53

The trial of Thomas Møller Olsen, a Greenlandic sailor who has been charged with the murder of 20 year old local girl, Birna Brjánsdóttir, started this morning. Local media is following the trial closely, as the murder gripped the Icelandic nation. Thomas, who has continued to deny being responsible for Birna's death, made dramatic changes to his previous testimony under police interrogation during the morning's proceedings.

The most high-profile murder case in recent Icelandic history

The two sailors Thomas Møller Olsen (left) and Nikolaj Olsen (right). Thomas now claims Nikolaj was the last to see Birna alive. Photo/Iceland Insider

The Greenlandic sailor has been in custody since January 17 when he was arrested in connection to the disappearance of a 20 year old Birna Brjánsdóttir who had gone missing early morning January 14. Birna's naked body was later recovered from a rocky beach. She had been the victim of a violent attack, her unconscious body thrown into the water, causing her to drown.

Footage from security cameras, blood found in a vehicle Thomas Møller had rented, evidence collected from the trawler where he was a crew member, as well as other evidence, points to Thomas being responsible for her disappearance and death.

Police also found 23.4 kg (51.6 lbs) of pressed hashish blocks in Thomas' cabin on board the trawler Polar Nanoq. Thomas is looking at up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty. He has denied both charges.

Iceland Insider covered the story as it unfolded in January. You can find links to our previous coverage below.

Thomas changes his testimony

Birna Brjánsdóttir The 20 year old went missing early morning January 14. She was found muredered on January 22. Photo/Metropolitan Police

During Police interrogation Thomas Møller denied having anything to do with Birna's disappearance, claiming that he and a second sailor, Nikolaj Olsen on the Greenlandic trawler Polar Nanoq had picked up two girls in downtown Reykjavík on the morning of January 14, but later dropped the girls off. The other sailor who was with Thomas in the vehicle at the time initially confirmed Thomas' version of event, but later retracted his testimony saying he had been too intoxicated to remember the events clearly, saying Thomas had attempted to influence his statement.

During today's testimony Thomas offered a completely different story as well as attempting to place responsibility for the disappearance of Birna with the second crew member. He claims that his previous story was delivered under duress and that the Police had been mean to him during the interrogation.

He has also reversed his stance on the drugs which were found in his cabin. He had previously denied any knowledge of the drugs, but now admits they were his.

Suggests a second crew member was last to see Birna

In Thomas' new version of events he was nothing more than a driver for the second sailor, who he claims had been aggressively pursuing women and girls at bars in downtown Reykjavík earlier in the evening. While previously claiming he had picked up two girls he now says he only picked up one girl who got into the back seat, where the second sailor was.

Thomas claims Nikolaj spoke to the girl, but that the girl then fell asleep. He claimed that he made a short stop to relief himself and Nikolaj had wanted time alone with the girl. He then claims that Nikolaj drove off with the girl. When the car returned, he claims, the girl was gone.

I don't know how long he was gone, but he was alone when he came back. I asked him where the female was, and he said she lived close by, and that she had walked home. I got back into the car and we drove off. Nikolaj kept rubbing his hands. He was very agitated and stared at me. He was extremely agitated and had his eyes wide open.

A fantastical chain of events

Thomas Møller The murder case is one of the most intensely watched in Iceland. Photo/Anton Brink

In his testimony Nikolaj again said he had been too intoxicated to remember anything that happened during the morning, saying he has never learned how to drive a car, and that it would have been physically impossible for him to operate a vehicle in his state of intoxication. He also repeated his previous testimony that Thomas had attempted to influence his testimony to the police.

Witness testimony from the bar where Thomas met up with Nikolaj seems to confirm Nikolaj's version of events.

Security cameras show Thomas spent significant time in the car at a secluded spot on the harbour after he dropped Nikolaj off at the trawler. Police believes that the assault on Birna took place during this time. Large quantities of blood were later found in the vehicle and her shoes were found near the spot where Thomas had parked the car. DNA from Thomas was found on the shoelaces. Police also found scratches, suggesting a struggle, on Thomas' chest and hands.

Thomas, however, claims that he often scratches himself to blood while sleeping. He offered no explanation for the blood found in the vehicle, and claims he was searching for his cellphone in the car during the time it was parked in the harbour area, and that he then fell asleep inside the car.

Security cameras then show Thomas driving off from the harbour, before returning several hours later. Police believes he used this time to dump Birna's body as well as attempting to scrub the car of evidence. Birna's body was found on January 22 after a massive search by more than 500 ICE-SAR members.

Thomas was unable to say where he was during this time or where he drove to, claiming he was delivering a package. He was unwilling to say anything more about this mysterious package, who received the package or where it had come from.

Police was mean to him

Polar Nanoq Thomas Møller was a crew member of the Greenlandic trawler which was harboured in the harbour of Reykjavík suburban municipality Hafnarfjörður. Photo/Anton Brink

When asked why his testimony in court was so wildly different from his previous testimony Thomas said he had been upset after he was arrested by the police. The police, he said, had called him names and pressured him to provide information. The police, he said, had been mean to him, and that he had felt as if he was a monster.

The trial will continue on Tuesday August 22 and Friday August 1 September. A total of 38 people will give testimony. If Thomas is found guilty he could be looking at 20 years in prison.

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

Friday Mar 31

Thomas Møller is formally charged with the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir

Tuesday Feb 7

Thomas Møller had previously been acquitted of raping an unconscious woman in Greenland

The cause of death, other disturbing details about Birna's death revealed.

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

Thursday Feb 2

Police now believes only one of the men originally arrested on connection to Birna's disappearance is responsible for her death.

Monday Jan 30:

Thousands participate in a memorial service for Birna

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.

The identity of the two suspects revealed by local media.

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.

Friday Jan 20

More details about the drug find on-board the Greenlandic trawler.

Police believes the two men held in custody are responsible for the murder of Birna.

Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway while the search for Birna continues.

Thursday Jan 19

Police discover large quantities of drugs on-board the trawler, arresting a fourth man.

Police reveals that evidence from the a red Kia Rio the sailors had rented from Friday to Saturday pointed to a violent crime.

More arrests on-board the ship, which arrived in harbour at 23:07 on Wednesday

Wednesday Jan 18

Police arrested two men on board the trawler.

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.

The case has gripped the Icelandic nation. Police warns people to avoid of hysteria.

Security camera footage from Hafnarfjörður harbour shows crew members exiting the red Kia Rio, behaving suspiciously. The trawler was returned to harbour in Reykjavík.

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.

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.

Police released CCTV footage of Birna walking in downtown Reykjavík on Monday.

Monday Jan 16

A large scale search had been underway since Saturday for 20 year old local woman. Police feared foul play.