The jury in the trial of a Norwegian man accused of acting as a hitman in a London murder plot has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict. The panel of 12 jurors spent more than 40 hours deliberating over 10 days before informing the judge they were deadlocked.
The defendant, Anders Kristiansen, 34, was charged with the murder of 28-year-old financier Marcus Reed in a luxury apartment in Knightsbridge in 2022. Prosecutors alleged Kristiansen was paid £200,000 by an unnamed organised crime syndicate to carry out the killing. The defence argued that Kristiansen was a scapegoat and that the evidence, largely circumstantial, did not meet the high standard required for a conviction.
Judge Eleanor Hargreaves addressed the jury on Monday morning, instructing them to continue their deliberations after they initially indicated they could not reach a unanimous decision. However, by late afternoon, the foreman confirmed they were hopelessly deadlocked, prompting the judge to discharge them.
“It is with regret that I must discharge you. This has been a complex and demanding case, and I thank you for your service,” Judge Hargreaves said from the bench.
The Crown Prosecution Service now faces a decision on whether to seek a retrial. A hearing is expected later this week to determine the next steps.
The trial, which began in early November, heard evidence from more than 30 witnesses. Central to the prosecution’s case was CCTV footage showing a man matching Kristiansen’s description entering and leaving the victim’s building at the time of the murder. However, the defence highlighted gaps in the footage and raised questions about the reliability of forensic evidence linking Kristiansen to the scene.
Kristiansen, who has maintained his innocence throughout, will remain in custody pending further proceedings.
Legal analysts suggest the hung jury underscores the challenges of prosecuting cases that rely heavily on circumstantial evidence of this nature, particularly when the defendant has no prior criminal record and a seemingly ordinary background. Kristiansen, a former IT consultant from Oslo, had no known links to the victim or to organised crime, according to his defence team.
The case has drawn significant attention in both the UK and Norway, with claims of a miscarriage of justice being raised by supporters of the accused. Outside the courtroom, a small group of protesters held placards reading “Free Anders” and “No Evidence, No Conviction”.
The Crown Prosecution Service declined to comment on the likelihood of a retrial. A statement is expected within 48 hours.
For now, the families of both the victim and the accused remain in a state of limbo, awaiting a resolution that may be months away.
