Police obtain court permission to take witness statement in Kiðjaberg investigation in Iceland

Police in Iceland have obtained court permission to take a witness statement from a man who is set to leave the country, as part of their investigation into a death connected to the Kiðjaberg case. The initial victim is suspected to have been murdered by a colleague.

In April, police found a deceased man at a summer cottage in Kiðjaberg, near Hestvatn, while construction was being carried out. Initially, four Lithuanian men were arrested, with two suspected of involvement in the death. However, as the investigation progressed, focus shifted to a different individual, with one being regarded as a key witness.

Authorities were concerned that this witness might leave the country before providing testimony, which heightened the urgency to secure his statement for potential court proceedings. The police expressed that both the suspect and the witness possessed crucial information regarding what transpired leading up to the man’s death, although their accounts contradicted each other on significant details.

The witness claimed to have observed a dispute between the victim and the suspected murderer, even finding the victim lying on the floor and attempting to assist him. In contrast, the suspect stated he had little recollection of events.

Despite the police’s request to record the witness’s testimony, a local district court rejected their application, citing that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that securing the witness’s statement would be impossible if he left the country. However, this decision was overturned by a higher court in late July.

As of now, more than four months after the incident, no charges have been filed.