Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.02.2017, Síða 18

The Murder of Birna
Brjáns dótt ir
The case that gripped Iceland, and the world
“It was the local reaction—both amongst
the general public and within the media—
that truly reflects just how deeply this
story has touched us, and how little
experience we have with dealing with
tragedies of this nature.”
Last month, a young woman
who was last seen walking down
Laugavegur early one Saturday
morning disappeared without a
trace. CCTV footage of her last
known whereabouts depict a scene
familiar to all Icelanders: she was
walking downtown eating take-
out after an evening on the town.
What unfolded in the subsequent
investigation was a nightmare
that’s still gripping the whole
country.
Here’s what we know: at
some point on her walk along
Laugavegur, Birna either got into
or was taken into a red Kia Rio.
Her mobile phone continued to
produce a signal until it got to
Hafnarfjörður, where the signal
than switched off. Her boots were
found near the harbour, and the
largest search-and-rescue opera-
tion in Icelandic history was initi-
ated. Of immediate interest to the
police was the Greenlandic trawl-
er Polar Nanoq, which had been
docked in Hafnarfjörður that eve-
ning. A red Kia Rio had been rent-
ed by one of the ship’s crew, and
subsequent surveillance footage
of the area would show two crew
members exit the car at the har-
bour, with one boarding the ship
and another driving away. Traces
of Birna’s blood were found in the
car, and her ID was later found in
a trash can on the ship. Days later,
her body was discovered in a cove
at Selvogsvita, west of Þorlák-
shöfn in southern Iceland. Police
later ruled her death a homicide,
and the two crew members are
still in police custody at the time
of this writing.
The story made international
headlines, and in response, towns
and villages all around Greenland
expressed an outpouring of sym-
pathy. But it was the local reac-
tion—both amongst the general
public and within the media—that
truly reflects just how deeply this
story has touched us, and how lit-
tle experience we have with deal-
ing with tragedies of this nature.
Icelanders across social media
could not help but conduct inves-
tigations of their own, with some
going so far as to demand answers
on the Facebook page of the Polar
Nanoq. Some media outlets en-
gaged in open speculation, report-
ing on social media rumours and
providing a live stream of Polar
Nanoq as it returned to Iceland
at the request of the police; and
virtually any Icelander with an
opinion was interviewed. Break-
ing from longstanding journal-
istic tradition, some outlets even
released the names and photos of
the suspects.
Police have pleaded with the
press to show some discretion
in this matter. Some city offi-
cials have responded to the case
by suggesting more surveillance
cameras, better security at night-
clubs, and safety education for
young women—although con-
spicuously absent is any mention
that perhaps young men should be
educated on the nature of consent,
as Icelandic feminists have been
quick to point out.
In many ways, the response
is understandable. Birna could
have been any of us. Almost all
of us have, at some point or an-
other, found ourselves walking
downtown alone late on a week-
end night. The murder itself also
makes no sense, even given how
little sense any murder makes:
extraordinarily for Iceland, there
was no connection between the
victim and her alleged assailants,
and it did not appear to have been
planned. The tragedy is not only
senseless: it defies explanation.
The weeks and possibly months
to come will hopefully shed more
light on exactly what happened.
But we may never know why it hap-
pened. Whatever lessons we may
glean from this tragedy, Birna’s
family is left with a vacuum where
this vibrant, all-too-relatable
young woman used to live.
Words
PAUL
FONTAINE
Photos
ART BICNICK
Share:
GPV.IS/BIR2
The memorial march brought out between 6-8000 mourners
A plaque depicting Birna amidst
marchers on Arnarhóll
ANALYSIS
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Þingholtsstræti 5 • 101 Reykjavík
Tel. 568 6600 • sushisocial.is
Our kitchen is open
17.00–23.00 sun.–thu.
17.00–24.00 fri.–sat.
3 course
amazing
dinner menu
5.900 kr.
STARTER
Choose between
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Gravlax roll with Brennivín
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mayo, rye bread crumble
MAIN COURSE
Choose between
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DESSERT
Skyr
Skyr infused with
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