Danish coroner says journalist likely strangled on sub

COPENHAGEN: A coroner testified Thursday that Swedish journalist Kim Wall, who died on Danish inventor Peter Madsen’s submarine, was probably strangled or had her throat cut, and was not killed in an accident as Madsen claims.

Christina Jacobsen told the Copenhagen district court there was no conclusive evidence to prove the cause of death beyond doubt.

“What we think happened is that the airways were totally or partially cut off. That would be due to either strangulation, throat cutting or drowning,” she said.

However, when asked by Madsen’s lawyer Betina Hald Engmark whether Wall’s autopsy showed typical signs of strangulation (blood accumulation in the eyes, abrasions on the neck), the coroner replied: “No.”

Madsen, who is charged with premeditated murder, sexual assault, and desecration of a corpse, has changed his version of events multiple times but has maintained her death was accidental.

On the first day of his trial on March 8, he told the court that Wall, a 30-year-old freelancer, died when the air pressure suddenly dropped and toxic fumes filled his vessel on the night of August 10, 2017, while he was up on deck.

He has admitted dismembering her body and throwing it overboard, but denies premeditated murder and sexual assault. — AFP