The grave of “Steinunn á Sjöundá,” convicted for the murder of her husband two centuries ago, was finally given a tombstone after a lengthy battle by her descendants.
A Reykjavík cemetery. Photo by NÁ.
Today marks 200 years since Steinunn’s death and even now her family is convinced that the court procedure was unfair, ruv.is reports.
“In my mind, it is crystal clear that Steinunn was judged innocent,” says Kristinn Þór Egilsson, a descendant of Steinunn.
The events and criminal proceedings of 1802 relating to the imprisonment of lovers Steinunn Sveinsdóttir and Bjarni Bjarnason after murdering their spouses are well known in Icelandic history.
For many years, her remains have lied in an unmarked grave in Hólavallagarður cemetery in Reykjavík.
ZR
