A Norwegian footballer accused of traveling to England to carry out a 'hit' for a gang linked to Iran has told jurors he is 'no international assassin' or 'cold-blooded hitman'.
Defendant's Testimony
Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, was 'terrified' and would have shot himself in the foot to get out of the 'pickle' he was in while desperate for drug money, the Old Bailey heard. He told his trial that he thought the Swedish Foxtrot gang, which had offered him money to kill someone in England, would shoot him in the head if he backed out.
Details of the Plot
Last March, Natland traveled to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and picked up £2,000 in cash, a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and 12 rounds of live ammunition. However, the plan was scuppered two days after Natland arrived in the UK when armed police raided his hotel room and arrested him, the court has heard.
Giving evidence on Thursday, Natland said he was 'not a cold-blooded hitman' or like Liam Neeson's character in the Hollywood film Taken despite the facade he presented to friends. He said: 'I wasn't an international assassin. I thought people had this impression and expected me to be this guy. I knew I wasn't. I know how this stuff looks, you know? But I know myself. I would never have got off on violence.'
Background and Drug Addiction
Natland was a good student and keen footballer before he got hooked on MDMA, amphetamines, weed, and cocaine, which affected his mental health, the court heard. He was aware of the 'Swedish Foxes' gang but when he received a message asking him to go to England and kill someone he thought it was a 'joke,' he said. He responded by asking who would be shot because he 'wanted some money,' with half the fee – 12,500 euros – to be paid up front, he said.
When he realized what he was expected to do, he initially tried to get out of it by saying he was 'not a fan of flying' and his passport had expired, but the gang seemed 'determined,' he said.
Fear and Desperation
Natland said: 'I was trying to put up this facade, like I kill people in England before breakfast, but I was terrified and I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to go to police. I thought I would probably get killed. During this time I'm not really thinking too coherently. At the time I'm just stressing. I can't kill someone, but these guys want me to do it and if I don't do it they're going to kill me. I'm acting like things are alright, but yeah.'
Natland told his friends that someone was going to die because he did not want to look like a 'pussy,' he said. On his state of mind on the eve of his arrest, he said: 'I'm thinking that's me done, my fate is sealed. I bought some Coronas. I was stressing, thinking what I'm actually going to do, sitting in a hotel in Huddersfield. I've got two firearms under my bed. I'd never seen a gun before. Tomorrow is the day. I'm thinking what will you do? And I came to the not very brilliant plan: jump out of the car and shoot myself in the foot and say 'yo we need to get out of here.' I was going to look like an idiot but desperate times call for desperate measures. Faced with the alternative of being shot in the head, I thought being shot in the foot is better, yeah.'
Defense barrister Paul Hynes KC asked: 'Were you going to shoot anyone?' Natland replied: 'Definitely not. Maybe myself.'
Arrest and Aftermath
He was asked why he made a shooting gesture with his hands when police turned up at his hotel room door. He said: 'So I go out there, I don't know why I done it. I was just happy when I come out. I thought they are my saviour, this is my way out. I'm safe now. I don't have to shoot myself in the foot.' He added: 'Paradoxically, coming to England is the worst thing that ever happened to me but it got me out of drugs and the situation I'm in. I'm sitting in Belmarsh (prison) with murderers. It's rough but I feel good, yeah?'
Natland has denied conspiring to murder an unknown person but has admitted possession of the two firearms and ammunition. The Old Bailey trial continues.
