Reykjavík attacker begins sentence at Vernd halfway house

A young man sentenced to eight years in prison for the killing of Bryndís Klara Birgisdóttir and the wounding of two others during Culture Night in Reykjavík has begun serving his sentence at the Vernd halfway house.

The perpetrator, who was 16 at the time of the attack in August 2022 and has recently turned 18, was transferred to the Laugardal facility from the Stuðlar treatment center. Under Icelandic law, the eight-year sentence represents the maximum penalty for crimes committed before the age of 18.

Due to specific regulations regarding young offenders, individuals aged 21 or younger may apply for parole after serving one-third of their sentence. The Vernd facility operates under a model that requires residents to stay on-site during evenings and nights while engaging in mandatory study, work, or treatment.