crime
The start of the trial for the deadly rampage in Copenhagen
Special prosecutor Soren Harbo speaks to journalists outside Copenhagen City Court. photo
© Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix Photo/AP/dpa
A year ago, three people were killed in one of the largest shopping malls in Scandinavia. The alleged perpetrator is now on trial in Copenhagen.
Almost a year after the killing spree in Copenhagen’s Field’s shopping center with three dead and several injured, the trial of the suspect has begun. Prosecutor Søren Harbo read out the indictment in the Danish capital on Monday. Accordingly, the 23-year-old alleged perpetrator is accused of triple murder and multiple attempted murders.
Defense attorney Luise Høj said her client could hardly remember what happened and would therefore not make a statement. It is not disputed that the Dane was in the mall that day, had a gun with him and fired several shots, killing and injuring people. However, the man claims that he is mentally ill and therefore not guilty.
The Field’s shopping mall in the Ørestad district of Copenhagen is one of the largest in Scandinavia. A girl and a boy, each aged 17, and a 46-year-old man were killed in the shooting on July 3, 2022. Several other people were injured. The then 22-year-old suspect was arrested a few minutes after the shots were fired in front of the building. Since then he has been in custody, but in a closed psychiatric ward instead of in prison.
Six days of hearings, ending on July 5, have been scheduled for the Copenhagen City Court.