Yesterday, two men involved in a shooting in Reykjavík on November 18, were sentenced to serve time in prison.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />
Axel Már Smith, Kristján Halldór Jensson and Tómas Pálsson Eyþórsson were all charged with attempted manslaughter. They drove together to Tangarbryggja 14, Reykjavík, on Friday night November 182011, where they had scheduled a rendezvous with another man due to a conflict regarding a financial debt. The indictment states that Kristján Halldór shot once in the direction of the other man’s car, but missed. When the man drove off, the others chased him and Kristján Halldór shot again, this time out of the window of the car. The shot went through the back window of the man’s car and the vehicle was substantially damaged.
The prosecution initially demanded that Kristján Halldór serve six years in prison for his involvement. Tómas, who supposedly initiated the action but who also revealed the others’ involvement to the police, three years, and Axel, who was deemed to be the least involved, two years.
Reykjavík District Court.
Reykjavík District Court acquitted the men of attempted manslaughter but found them guilty of endangerment and involvement in endangerment. The maximum punishment for such an offense according to Icelandic law is four years in prison, mbl.is reports.
The court therefore decided that Kristján Halldór should serve four years in prison and Tómas eighteen months. Axel Smith was acquitted but made to pay ISK 66,000 (USD 500; EUR 400) for minor drug offenses.
Kristján and Tómas have been made to pay a total of ISK 600,000 (USD 4,750; EUR 3,500) in damages and ISK 1 million (USD 8,000; EUR 6,000) in legal costs to the victim.
All three men have been in custody since before the New Year. The court’s decision means that Axel was released from custody yesterday, mbl.is reports.
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