Motion to dismiss the terrorism case
The terrorism case is again being tried in the District Court. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Sveinn Andri Sveinsson, the lawyer of Sindri Snær Birgisson, filed an order to dismiss the terrorism case against Sindri Snær and Ísidór Nathansson in the District Court of Reykjavík today.
The entire case is covered by the dismissal order. Both to the terrorism part of the indictment as well as the weapons part of the indictment.
Detailed report
At the hearing today, Sveinsson made a detailed explanation. The judge assessed the case as a special hearing to be held on the formalities of the case and whether there is a reason to dismiss the case.
As mentioned, new charges were brought against Birgisson and Nathansson, but the terrorist part of the case has already been dismissed once.
A hearing will be scheduled for September 20 for the formalities of the case, with a preliminary hearing in the case itself on September 14th.
The prosecution has presented a list of some 30 witnesses. The list has policemen on it, as well as those familiar with Birgisson and Nathansson.
Sveinn Andri Sveinsson and Karl Ingi Vilbergsson at the District Court today. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Charge is still not clear
Sveinsson says the dismissal order is partly based on the same criteria as the previous dismissal order.
“The charges are still not clear and the corrective measures that have been taken are not enough,” says Sveinsson. Similarly, there is a special requirement relating to the procurement of ammunition. He considers that charges have already been filed against the weapons offense part of the charges. “It is based on the principle of a ban on double criminal procedure,” says Sveinsson.
At this time it was only Sveinsson, who was Birgisson’s lawyer, who filed a dismissal claim. But it was noted at the hearing that a similar claim is expected on behalf of Nathansson.
Dismissal orders on the whole case are not expected
Asked if this demand of dismissing the case was a surprise, Karl Ingi Vilbergsson, the district attorney for the district attorney’s office, says that this was partly the case.
“I was expecting some sort of a dismissal order, not that the whole case be dismissed in its entirety,” says Vilbergsson.
He says he agrees with finalizing the formalities first before going to the main hearing.
“It’s best not to be spending a powder on hearings and other things if the matter is so dismissed in the later stages,” says Vilbergsson.
