A young Norwegian footballer accused of becoming a hitman is alleged to have told a friend: “I’m going to get a lot of money and somebody is going to die.”
Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, is on trial accused of travelling from Norway to Manchester Airport on 17 March last year to carry out a “hit” for money.
Natland, from Stavanger in south-west Norway, was allegedly tasked by Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organised crime group used by the Iranian regime.
But the Old Bailey heard police arrested him at a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, two days after he arrived in the UK. They found on him a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and 12 rounds of live ammunition.
open image in galleryOfficers found a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and 12 rounds of live ammunition, which he has admitted having.
A former schoolfriend called Lucas Oftedal described on Thursday how he had met Natland in the street on 15 March last year when he was on his way to a house party.
He said Natland looked “healthy” and “sober”, but the first thing Natland was alleged to have asked was: “Have you heard of the foxes?”
Mr Oftedal, who understood it in reference to a “dangerous” gang he had seen on the news, said: “I was kind of stunned [and asked] what do you mean? The Swedish foxes? Foxtrot Swedish gang?
“I don’t remember the exact words. It was ‘I’m going to get a lot of money and somebody is going to die’.”
They later exchanged messages where Mr Oftedal warned: “Yo, hope it’s not you carrying out the task. Severe punishment. Be careful.”
Natland asked him not to speak to anyone else about it and would not give further details about what he meant.
Mr Oftedal told the court he had known Natland from school for about four or five years and had counted him as a friend.
He said Natland had been “struggling” with drugs for a while in the past and spent time in rehab, but previously was a talented sportsman and popular student.
Asked how he had changed over time by Paul Hynes KC, Mr Oftedal said: “His temperament. It was easier for him to lash out and be angry. He was often a bit down, not like his normal happy self.”
He told jurors Natland would take Xanax, marijuana, alcohol, opiates and cocaine, although he had no personal knowledge of what he was consuming all the time.
It is not disputed that Natland had said something along the lines of “have you heard of the foxes?”
Asked by Paul Hynes KC he thought Natland was trying to “look cool”, he said: “I don’t think so. I wasn’t sure what to believe, I remember thinking that it’s serious.”
Mr Oftedal added his group of friends had been “very concerned” when they discussed it, and he said he had considered reporting the conversation to the authorities.
Anders Kallevag, who played football with Natland and Mr Oftedal, gave evidence by video-link from Norway.
Recounting his memory of the conversation on March 15, he said: “The thing I heard, ‘someone will die tonight, you know the Swedish Foxes’.
He said he was standing four or five metres away at the time but said he clearly overheard Natland’s comment: “Someone will die tonight, you know the Swedish Foxes.”
Natland’s on-off girlfriend, Sara Solbi, also told jurors via an interpreter how Natland had messaged her: “I’m going on crazy mission.”
He asked to meet, saying he had “wild information to share” but would not say on the telephone.
Asked by prosecutor Alistair Richardson how she felt about it, Ms Solbi replied: “I was not happy about it.”
Natland denies conspiracy to murder but has admitted possession of the two firearms and ammunition. The Old Bailey trial continues.