Reversal of Decision in Court of Appeals
Rewritten Article:
Hear ye, hear ye! Indeed, justice has been served. Matter-of-factly, Sveinn Andri Sveinsson, theDefense attorney, spilled the beans yesterday, discussing the latest verdict handed down in the Court of Appeal concerning a suspected terrorist case— a first of its kind in Iceland.
These two suspects have been behind bars since September 21st, accused of planning nefarious acts and charged with weapons offenses. Most of their days have been spent in solitary confinement.
The court's decision on December 9th, confirming their continued detainment, was challenged and brought before the Court of Appeal.
A psychological evaluation flipped the script
Sveinsson shares that the reason for their release stems from a judge-appointed assessor's ruling stating that these defendants pose no threat to others or themselves.
Sveinsson conveys that the change in sentencing was influenced by a final psychiatric evaluation which, you guessed it, confirmed the same results.
The district court previously reasoned that the police's risk assessment could be based on factors other than the psychiatric evaluation. However, the Icelandic court, surprisingly, has now agreed that with the updated psychiatric evaluation in hand, there's simply no justification for keeping them locked up, given Article 95 (d) of the Act on Criminal Procedure, dealing with the possibility of detaining individuals considered dangerous.
Sveinsson points out that the nature of the case has alterred significantly with the suspects being released. "The case is no longer moving at the the same pace as it would have otherwise."
The case lives on
Karl Ingi Vilbergsson, the prosecutor for the District attorney's office, remarks that the Court of Appeal's decision to free the accused in this terror case has no bearing on the District attorney's case against them.
The suspects have been in custody since September for suspected terror offenses and weapons violations, with a planned release date set for January 6.
Has the case become less serious than initially anticipated?
"Hardly," Vilbergsson tells mbl.is.
When querying how the Court of Appeal could release the suspects, despite their continued detainment for investigative purposes and charges of terrorism and serious weapons offenses, Vilbergsson directs us to the Court of Appeal's verdict.
"The verdict of the Court of Appeal will be published soon. Let it speak for itself."
Do you have no opinion on this matter?
"I have an opinion, but I won't air it," says Vilbergsson.
- Sveinsson has revealed that the release of the defendants was due to a ruling by a judge-appointed assessor, stating they pose no threat to others or themselves.
- The change in sentencing was influenced by a final psychiatric evaluation, which confirmed the same results and contradicted the police's risk assessment.
- Sveinsson mentioned that the nature of the case has altered significantly with the suspects being released, implying a slower pace of proceedings.
- Vilbergsson, the prosecutor, affirmed that the Court of Appeal's decision to release the accused has no impact on the District Attorney's case against them, but he has withheld his opinion on the matter.
