Submarine expert challenges Kim Wall murder suspect Peter Madsen’s toxic fumes defence
The 47-year-old inventor is accused of premeditated murder, sexual assault and desecration of a corpse, and has said her death was accidental
A leading submarine expert on Tuesday challenged Danish inventor Peter Madsen’s claim that Swedish journalist Kim Wall was killed by toxic fumes in his home-made vessel last year, as he faces trial for her murder.
Madsen, 47, who is accused of premeditated murder, sexual assault and desecration of a corpse, has said her death was accidental since the first day of his trial on March 8.
He said Wall, 30, died when a hatch fell on her head, but later changed his story after autopsy concluded there had been no damage to the skull.
Madsen has admitted dismembering her body and throwing it overboard, but denies premeditated murder and sexual assault.
The self-taught engineer said the freelance journalist – who was a former employee of the South China Morning Post – 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.
Ditte Dyreborg, a prominent lieutenant commander known for having a sex change operation to become a woman at the end of an impressive career in the Royal Danish Navy, said Madsen’s explanations were implausible, if not impossible, as she spoke in a Copenhagen court on Tuesday.