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CRIME

Submarine owner Peter Madsen admits dismembering Swedish journalist Kim Wall

Danish inventor Peter Madsen has admitted dismembering the body of Swedish journalist Kim Wall, whose body parts were found at sea after she interviewed him on board his homemade submarine, Copenhagen Police have confirmed.

Published: 30 October 2017 15:06 CET
Submarine owner Peter Madsen admits dismembering Swedish journalist Kim Wall
Copenhagen Police lead investigator Jens Møller Jensen speaks to media. Photo: Stine Tidsvilde/Polfoto/Ritzau

In initial police questioning, Madsen, who is suspected of her death, had denied cutting up her body and said she died in an accident when a heavy submarine hatch fell on her head.

He has now changed his story to say she died of carbon monoxide poisoning while on board, police said in a statement.

“He has now explained that Kim Wall died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning inside the submarine at a time when he was on deck,” police wrote.

“Furthermore, Peter Madsen has admitted that he subsequently dismembered her corpse and disposed of the body parts in Køge Bay,” the statement continued.

“This version of events naturally requires police to gather diverse supplementary statements from forensic specialists and submarine experts,” lead investigator Jens Møller Jensen said.

Madsen, 46, has also voluntarily extended his preliminary detention until November 15th, Copenhagen Police confirmed via press statement.

His detention on suspicion of killing Kim Wall has already been extended twice and had been due for review on October 31st.

Wall, a freelancer based in China and New York, never returned from her interview with Madsen on August 10th.

Her torso was found floating in Køge Bay on August 21st, and her head, legs and clothes were recovered in plastic bags in the same waters on October 7th.

Madsen, a self-taught engineer and inventor, has been held in custody on suspicion of killing Wall since August 11th and has now changed his version of events twice.

He denies killing the 30-year-old journalist.

READ ALSO: New findings in Denmark submarine investigation: Kim Wall was stabbed 'several times'

After intentionally sinking his submarine early on August 11th in Køge Bay, he was picked up by a rescue vessel and told police he had dropped Wall off on land after their interview the previous evening.

The following day, he changed his story to say a 70-kilo (154-pound) hatch fell on her head, killing her, and that he threw her body overboard, intact, in a panic.

That version of events was made public by Copenhagen City Court on September 5th.

Police said on October 7th that an autopsy of her head showed no sign of a skull injury.

The case has now been slated for a jury trial at Copenhagen City Court in the spring, Copenhagen Police also confirmed.

Eight days, spread between March 8th and April 25th 2018, have been initially set aside for the trial.

Scheduling of court proceedings was made with investigation of the case nearing completion, special prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen said via the police statement.

“Naturally, there is still some investigation of relevant information to be completed, but the case is broadly ready. It will therefore now move into the presentation phase and I expect a decision to be made with regard to indictment by the end of the year,” Buch-Jepsen said.

Police divers have continued searching waters in Køge Bay over the last two weeks in an effort to locate Kim Wall’s arms as well as mobile telephones belonging to her and Madsen. That search has so far remained unsuccessful.

READ ALSO: Police divers find saw near Denmark submarine route

POLITICS

Over a thousand people join protest against Stockholm attack

Over a thousand people joined a demonstration in Gubbängen, southern Stockholm, on Saturday, protesting Wednesday's attack by far-right extremists on a lecture organised by the Left and Green parties.

Published: 27 April 2024 15:36 CEST
Over a thousand people join protest against Stockholm attack

The demonstration, which was organised by the Left Party and the Green Party together with Expo, an anti-extremist magazine, was held outside the Moment theatre, where masked assailants attacked a lecture organised by the two parties on Wednesday. 

In the attack, the assailants – described as Nazis by Expo – let off smoke grenades and assaulted several people, three of whom were hospitalised. 

“Let’s say it how it is: this was a terror attack and that is something we can never accept,” said Amanda Lind, who is expected to be voted in as the joint leader of the Green Party on Sunday. 

She said that those who had attended the lecture had hoped to swap ideas about how to combat racism. 

“Instead they had to experience smoke bombs, assault and were forced to think ‘have they got weapons’?. The goal of this attack was to use violence to generate fear and silence people,” she said.  

EXPLAINED: What we know about the attack on a Swedish anti-fascist meeting

More than a thousand people gathered to protest the attack on a theatre in Gubbängen, Stockholm. Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT

Nooshi Dadgostar, leader of the Left Party, said that that society needed to stand up against this type of extreme-right violence. 

“We’re here today to show that which should be obvious: we will not give up, we will stand up for ourselves, and we shall never be silenced by racist violence,” said said.

Sofia Zwahlen, one of the protesters at the demonstration, told the DN newspaper that it felt positive that so many had turned up to show their opposition to the attacks. 

“It feels extremely good that there’s been this reaction, that we are coming together. I’m always a little worried about going to this sort of demonstration. But this feels safe.”

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