OSLO. The trial of a British national accused of orchestrating a contract killing in Norway has ended in a hung jury, triggering a constitutional crisis that now tests the bilateral extradition treaty between London and Oslo. The defendant, identified as James Marshall, 47, was charged with conspiracy to murder Oslo-based businessman Lars Eriksson in 2023.
After 12 days of deliberation, the jury at Oslo District Court announced on Wednesday it could not reach a unanimous or majority verdict required under Norwegian law. Judge Karin Solvik declared a mistrial, citing irreconcilable differences among the panel. The collapse of the proceedings places the case in an unprecedented legal vacuum.
Under the Anglo-Norwegian Extradition Treaty of 1990, Marshall could be subject to a fresh extradition request from Norwegian authorities if they decide to retry him. However, legal experts note that British courts have historically refused to extradite individuals for retrial if the initial trial ended in a mistrial without a formal acquittal. The Crown Prosecution Service has been notified.
The Norwegian Directorate of Public Prosecutions has yet to announce whether it will seek a retrial or drop the charges. Marshall, a former British Army reservist, has maintained his innocence throughout the 18-month investigation. His defence team argued that Norwegian police relied on hearsay from a jailed drug trafficker with a history of perjury.
The mistrial is a blow to Norwegian efforts to combat cross-border organised crime. It also raises questions about the viability of the extradition treaty in cases where legal systems diverge on jury rules. In Britain, a hung jury usually leads to a retrial within six months.
In Norway, the constitution forbids double jeopardy except in limited circumstances, complicating the path forward. Political analysts here say the case could become a diplomatic flashpoint. A spokesperson for the British embassy in Oslo declined to comment on ongoing proceedings.
The next hearing is scheduled for June 12 to determine procedural next steps.
