Key witness in the case has died

The main proceedings in the Ólafsfjörður case will begin before the District Court of Northeast Iceland in Akureyri today. Steinþór Einarsson is charged with killing Tómas Waagfjörð on Monday night, October 3rd, 2022.

The key witness in the case, Waagfjörð’s widow, has died. She died in October, but she was struggling with a serious problem. It is unclear how much influence her death will have on the case, but Einarsson claims he was protecting himself in a dire situation.

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The wife had stabbed her husband last March and a history of violence

Waagfjörð’s widow had been suspected of stabbing him with an knife in March of last year. The police in North-East Iceland also had several cases under investigation, where it is believed that the couple had a conflict.

The main proceedings will begin at the District Court at 9.15 am, but today, a tour will also be taken to Ólafsfjörður. The case was staged with the assistance of the accused in Ólafsfjörður in November last year.

Released more than one month after the incident

Police were called on the scene on Monday, 3rd October last year after a report was made that a man was stabbed with a knife. The man, Tómas Waagfjörð, was pronounced dead at the scene after attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Four people were first detained in connection with the case. Three were later released and the case was investigated by police. On November 7, after more than a month of detention, the suspect, Steinþór Einarsson, was released from custody.

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In July of this year, seven months after the incident, the police investigation was completed. On August 24, an indictment was issued in the case and Einarsson was charged with manslaughter. He denies the charges in the case and, as stated above, is defending himself on the basis of self-defense.

Self-defense

It is stated in the charge that Einarsson killed Waagfjörð by stabbing him twice in the left side with a knife. As a result, Waagfjörð lost a lot of blood and died.

In the defense attorney’s article, however, Einarsson says that Tóm­as attacked Steinþór with a knife and tried to kill him. He first stabb­ed Einarsson in the cheek and later in the thigh. When Einarsson tried to defend himself, Waagfjörð fell on the knife and received the stabb­ings that later led to his death. The knife had a 20 centimeter's long blade.

Einarsson’s defence lawyer says in the article that in order to be convicted of manslaughter, the perpetrator’s intent must be to kill the individual, or it must be clear that the act is more likely than not to cause death.

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Einarsson was only defending himself against Waagfjörð’s attack and he was not armed. To demonstrate a direct intent, the prosecution must demonstrate that Einarsson, in his defence, made it clear that his defence was likely to cause death.

Asked for Waagfjörð to be removed

It has been reported that the day before the alleged homicide, Waagfjörð’s wife called the police and asked that her husband be removed from the house where they were in. Waagfjörð refused to comply with the police request.

Then Einarsson and another man, whom they know, encouraged her to come over to their house, three blocks away. The woman did so and planned to stay there.

Waagfjörð tried to get her back to him by telephone. When it didn’t work, Waagfjörð’s uncle went over and said he was here to get her. Then he said she was drunk and was going to sleep.

Didn't want to go home with Waagfjörð

Waagfjörð went over and intended to pick her up. Then she opened the door and let him in. Waagfjörð spoke with both his wife and Einarsson in the kitchen.

He tried to convince her to come back home with him but she didn't want to. Einarsson was getting tired of Waagfjörð and told him to leave.

It turned to tension rising with the aforementioned consequences, Waagfjörð died from stab wounds.