Woman sentenced to ten years in prison for violent assault in Bátavog, Iceland

In a ruling by the Reykjavík District Court, Dagbjört Rúnarsdóttir has been sentenced to ten years in prison for a violent assault that resulted in the death of a man in Bátavog last year. The court established that while Dagbjört inflicted serious bodily harm on the victim, she did not intend to kill him, believing that he would survive the injuries.

However, the court noted that Dagbjört should have been fully aware that continued violence, especially to sensitive areas like the neck, could potentially lead to fatal consequences. The victim died from asphyxiation due to violence directed at his neck and upper respiratory tract, with internal bleeding and other injuries exacerbating his condition.

The autopsy revealed significant injuries across the victim’s body, including numerous fractures and extensive internal bleeding in various muscle groups. The nature of these injuries indicated violent acts against him, including punches and kicks.

Dagbjört’s credibility was further undermined by her inconsistent statements and withholding of important information during investigations. She deleted video evidence from her phone shortly after the incident, claiming the content was inappropriate, but authorities recovered the footage, which was critical in the trial. The videos depicted her having an upper hand over the victim due to his condition at the time.

The court observed Dagbjört’s minimal reaction to the man’s death, contrasting sharply with her visible distress over her pet dog’s death, which she blamed on the victim. The judge found no extenuating circumstances for her actions and determined she was fully accountable. In addition to her prison sentence, Dagbjört is required to pay nearly 5 million krónur to the victim’s family and cover legal costs.