Young footballer said ‘life will be wonderful’ after kill mission, trial hears

Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of travelling to Manchester Airport on March 17 last year to carry out a “hit” for money.

Natland, from Stavanger in south-west Norway, was allegedly tasked by Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organised crime group used by the Iranian regime.

He was thwarted by police who arrested him at a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, two days after arriving in Britain, jurors have heard.

Officers found a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and 12 rounds of live ammunition, which he has admitted having.

On Thursday, his on-off girlfriend Sara Solbi told jurors how Natland had messaged her: “I’m going on crazy mission.”

He asked to meet saying he had “wild information to share” but not on the telephone.

He confided that he was going to England alone the next day, adding: “This is it – either I’ve been scammed or I’m off tomorrow.”

Asked by prosecutor Alistair Richardson how she felt about it, Ms Solbi replied: “I was not happy about it.”

He later revealed more about the “mission” to “shoot someone” for money in England but did not say where or who, the witness said.

He allegedly told her: “Now I can finally kill someone and it’s perfect as I get money to do it. I can kill someone and life will be wonderful.”

Ms Solbi told jurors that Natland had needed the money and had told her “some Swedish people” were involved.

On March 16 last year, Natland had allegedly messaged her: “Yo it’s real.”

Ms Solbi said she thought it was a “bad idea” and Natland was becoming “hesitant” as the day of the mission came closer.

Before leaving for England, Ms Solbi asked him if he was sure he had thought it through, the court heard.

He allegedly told her: “It will be a bit cool to kill someone. If I don’t get caught we have to celebrate.”

Once he had arrived in England, he told her he had picked up a “bang” and sent her a selfie holding a gun, wearing gloves, and smiling, with the message: “Soon it will happen.”

After he was arrested and awaiting trial in prison in England, Natland had phoned Ms Solbi about giving evidence in court.

She told jurors: “He just told me not to tell the truth. He said ‘stop lying about what I said’.

“I wasn’t lying, I was telling the truth. What I said before is the truth.”

Cross-examining, Paul Hynes KC suggested Natland had regrets and might have wanted to abort the mission.

The witness said he was “very back and forth”.

She told jurors Natland thought it might be a “scam” and she regarded it as “sketchy” and was “sceptical” it would happen.

Mr Hynes suggested it was “bizarre” that Natland could come to England, shoot someone and nothing would happen.

Ms Solbi said he seemed “sad” and started taking drugs to cope with the stress as it was “too late” to back out.

He allegedly told her: “I can’t just go back on this now. I love you and so on in case something happened.”

Ms Solbi insisted he did tell her he “wanted to kill someone” but was now not sure whether he had said it would be “cool”.

Earlier, Natland’s former schoolfriend Lucas Oftedal described meeting him in the street on March 15 last year as he and his friends were on their way to a house party.

Mr Oftedal said he had not seen his friend for a while but he looked “healthy” and “sober”.

When he asked how he had been, the first thing Natland allegedly said was: “Have you heard of the foxes?”

Mr Oftedal said: “I was kind of stunned (and asked) what do you mean? The Swedish Foxes? Foxtrot Swedish gang?

“I don’t remember the exact words. It was ‘I’m going to get a lot of money and somebody is going to die’.”

In a series of messages Mr Oftedal warned: “Yo, hope it’s not you carrying out the task. Severe punishment. Be careful.”

Natland replied: “But bloody hell don’t talk about this to anyone outside you lot. Tell the others as well.”

Mr Oftedal told him: “Yes, will do. No stress, this will not get out,” and Natland exclaimed: “Intense.”

Later that evening Mr Oftedal asked: “Yo, what is your mission. Will not pass it on but can you say what’s involved?”

Natland replied: “When I’m back.”

Mr Oftedal told jurors that Natland had been “struggling” with drugs for a while in the past and spent time in rehab.

Before that, he had been a good, popular student and a talented sportsman and played football with him at a local club .

Asked if he thought Natland was trying to “look cool” when he talked about getting money and somebody going to die, he said: “I don’t think so. I wasn’t sure what to believe, I remember thinking that it’s serious.”

Mr Oftedal said he was “very concerned” and considered reporting it to authorities.

Anders Kallevag, who also played football with Natland and Mr Oftedal, recounted his memory of the conversation on March 15.

Giving evidence from Norway, he said: “The thing I heard, ‘someone will die tonight, you know the Swedish Foxes’.”

Natland denies conspiracy to murder but has admitted possession of the two firearms and ammunition.

The Old Bailey trial was adjourned until Monday.