A 34-year-old gang leader has been charged with ordering a contract killing that took the life of an innocent 22-year-old man on Christiania five years ago. The leader of the criminal network Casablanca, extradited from Morocco last year, has also admitted to ordering another contract killing in Copenhagen.
Unsolved Murder Takes New Turn
A murder case that remained unsolved for five years has finally seen a breakthrough. Copenhagen Police have charged a 34-year-old man with ordering the gang murder that killed an innocent 22-year-old resident of Christiania in July 2021. The victim had no connection to criminal activity and was simply sitting in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The case represents a significant development in Danish gang crime investigations. For years, police searched for the gunmen who fired seven shots on Christiania, but the person who allegedly ordered the killing remained unidentified. That changed at a recent court hearing in Copenhagen City Court, where the 34-year-old gang leader faced additional charges.
Leader of Criminal Network Charged
The man charged with ordering the killing led the criminal network called Casablanca. According to Danish police, this network has been involved in violent conflicts across Denmark. The suspect was extradited from Morocco last year and already faced charges for several serious offenses before the new accusations emerged.
René Gaardsvig, head of the department for violent crime at Copenhagen Police, confirmed to DR that three additional charges have been added to the case. The charges include murder and attempted murder, with the 34-year-old accused of participating through incitement, advice, or action. According to court documents, the suspect has not opposed the new charges, which effectively amounts to an admission of his role in the case.
Wrong Man Killed in Targeted Attack
The 22-year-old victim was born and raised on Christiania. He was well-liked by family, friends, and neighbors, and police never believed he was the intended target. The young man was sitting in a chair smoking hash with a group of people when the gunmen arrived. Just moments before, another man with connections to the gang environment had been sitting in the same chair.
Police believe the killers mistook the innocent victim for their actual target. The charges against the 34-year-old also include ordering shots fired at an apartment door where the intended victim lived just weeks before the Christiania murder. That earlier incident appears to have been a precursor to the fatal shooting where the wrong person was killed.
Pattern of Contract Killings Emerges
The Christiania murder was part of a new trend in Danish gang crime at the time. Criminal groups began hiring outside killers to carry out murders, creating distance between gang leaders and the actual violence. Multiple sources told DR in 2021 that the unknown shooters came from Dødspatruljen, a Swedish criminal network notorious for serious crimes in Sweden.
Swedish Hitmen Remain at Large
None of the actual shooters have been arrested. However, one man was convicted of supplying the weapon used in the murder. The use of foreign contract killers represents a significant challenge for Danish law enforcement. These hired guns typically have no previous connections to Denmark and can disappear across borders immediately after carrying out their assignments.
The Christiania case highlighted how Danish criminal networks were adapting their methods. By using Swedish hitmen, gang leaders sought to insulate themselves from direct criminal liability. Nevertheless, the recent charges show that police can still build cases against those who order such killings, even years after the fact.
Admission of Second Contract Killing
The 34-year-old gang leader has also admitted to ordering another contract killing six months after the Christiania murder. In that case, a 27-year-old man with connections to the gang environment was shot and killed outside a café in Nørrebro. Two men received life sentences for carrying out that murder.
During their appeal hearing in the Eastern High Court, the 34-year-old was called as a witness. He testified that he controlled the criminal network Casablanca and had given the order for the killing. According to his testimony, the murder stemmed from disputes within the criminal environment. His willingness to testify about ordering that killing appears to have strengthened the case against him in the Christiania murder.
Investigation Continues
The 34-year-old remains in pretrial detention, and prosecutors have not yet prepared a final indictment against him. His defense attorney, Jesper Storm Thygesen, declined to comment on the new charges. Meanwhile, Copenhagen Police continue working to identify and locate the actual shooters who carried out the Christiania killing.
Community Impact and Remembrance
The murder shocked the Christiania community. Many flowers were laid at the site where the 22-year-old lost his life. Police were present in large numbers after the shooting to investigate the scene where seven shots had been fired. Another man was also shot in the leg during the incident but survived his injuries.
The victim’s death highlighted how innocent people can become casualties in gang conflicts. As someone with no involvement in criminal activity, he simply happened to be in a location and position that made him a target for killers looking for someone else. His death remains a stark reminder of the collateral damage caused by gang violence in Danish cities.
Building Cases Against Gang Leaders
The charges against the Casablanca leader demonstrate that Danish authorities are working to hold those who order violence accountable, not just those who carry it out. Even when contract killers cross international borders, prosecutors can build cases based on communications, witness testimony, and patterns of criminal behavior. The five-year gap between the murder and the charges reflects the complexity of such investigations.
As the case moves forward, it may provide important precedents for prosecuting gang leaders who use contract killers. The fact that the suspect has not opposed the charges suggests the evidence against him is substantial. However, the search for the actual shooters continues, with authorities still seeking to bring all those responsible to justice.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Gang murder plot trial shakes Copenhagen courtroom
The Danish Dream: Bloody nightclub stabbing shocks central Copenhagen
The Danish Dream: Convicted killer escapes high security Copenhagen prison
The Danish Dream: Best criminal defence lawyers in Denmark for foreigners
DR: Lejemord på Christiania har været uopklaret i fem år nu er bagmand blevet sigtet
