Jury out in trial of alleged Norwegian hitman arrested in Yorkshire
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of an alleged hitman from Norway accused of travelling to England to carry out a killing on behalf of an international crime gang backed by Iran.
Talented footballer Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, allegedly agreed with the Swedish Foxes gang to shoot an unknown target for 25,000 euro (£21,500) in March last year.
Two days after arriving in the UK on a flight from his home in Stavanger, armed police swooped to arrest him at a hotel in Huddersfield and seize two guns and 12 live bullets.
Natland admitted possession of the firearms and ammunition but denies conspiracy to murder, claiming he planned to shoot himself in the foot to get out of the “pickle”.
On Tuesday (Jun 16) at 11.17am, Mr Justice Lavender sent the Old Bailey jury out to begin deliberating on its verdict.
Shortly before 4.30pm, the jury was sent home and told to return to court on Wednesday (Jun 17) to continue deliberations.