Danish sub builder charged over Swedish journalist's death

SBS World News Radio: Police in Denmark say they plan to bring further charges against a Danish inventor accused over the death of a Swedish journalist.The journalist, Kim Wall, was last seen on board a submarine built by Peter Madsen before her body was found two weeks later.

Danish sub builder charged over Swedish journalist's deathDanish sub builder charged over Swedish journalist's death

Danish sub builder charged over Swedish journalist's death

The last known photo of Kim Wall shows her standing on the top of the U-C-3 Nautilus submarine in waters around Copenhagen.

On Wednesday, police announced that, using DNA, they had identified a headless torso found in the area as that of the 30-year-old Swedish journalist.

Danish inventor Peter Madsen, the builder of the submarine, has been charged with manslaughter and could face life in prison if found guilty.

The Danish Emergency Management Agency's Kasper Groenningiverson says the search is continuing for further remains and Ms Wall's clothing.

"It seems very accessible, as you can see, but, further down behind you, there are quite a few obstacles and other things that make it difficult to get in there. But we have people along the coast, and we're helping the police with the search."

Mr Madsen's story has changed several times.

At first, he claimed he buried the young reporter at sea after she died in an accident on board the craft.

She had been writing a story about the inventor, who had expressed his desire to launch a space mission.

The 17-metre submarine is one of three constructed by Mr Madsen and one of the largest privately built ones in the world.

The 46-year-old had said at one point he dropped off Ms Wall on an island before being rescued after the 40-tonne submarine sank.

Copenhagen police spokesman Jens Moller says the evidence points to a different conclusion.

"We have secured a hairbrush and a toothbrush to ensure her DNA. We also found blood in the submarine, and there is a match."

Danish officials say there was metal attached to the body and other attempts to weigh it down, and they say there are signs the limbs were removed on purpose.

The court has ordered Mr Madsen be held on the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter as inquiries continue and have added the further charge of abuse of a corpse.

Under Danish law, there is no distinction between manslaughter and murder, while involuntary manslaughter describes a killing that is unintentional.

Mr Madsen will appear in court in September.

His defence attorney, Betina Hald Engmark, says he is pleased her remains have been found.

"I've only had a very brief moment to talk to my client for now, but I'll be visiting him later today. But my client and I are only positive about the fact that a clarification has been made, that the body found by the police yesterday is Kim Wall, because then a clarification has been made regarding questions on that part of the investigation."

The story has made headlines across Scandinavia.

Ms Wall had worked as a journalist in places such as Cuba, Uganda and Sri Lanka.

A candlelight vigil has been held at Columbia University's School of Journalism in New York in her memory.

 

 






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