Murder of Martine Vik Magnussen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Murder of Martine Vik Magnussen

Great Portland Street, where Magnussen's body was found in a block of flats.
Date: March 14, 2008
Time:
Location: Great Portland Street, London, United Kingdom
Martine Vik Magnussen
Born February 6, 1985(1985-02-06)
Nesøya, Asker, Norway
Died March 14, 2008 (aged 23)
Great Portland Street, London, United Kingdom
Cause of death Murdered
Residence Westminster, London, United Kingdom
Nationality Norwegian
Occupation Student
Parents Odd Petter Magnussen
Kristin Vik Ronnaug
Relatives Magnus (brother)
Mathilde (sister)[1]

The Martine Vik Magnussen case involves the murder of a 23-year-old Norwegian female business student, Martine Vik Magnussen. She was found in the basement of an apartment block, hidden under rubble, in a block of flats in Great Portland Street, London, United Kingdom on March 14, 2008.[2] She died from unnatural neck injuries, because of strangulation,[3] with suspected third party involvement.

Contents

[edit] Details of the case

[edit] Murder and investigation

Magnussen was last seen alive sometime between 0200 and 0300 GMT on March 14 at the Maddox nightclub in London's wealthy Mayfair district, more than a mile from the basement where her body was found. The club's official website states that it since its opening "has been London's hottest member's club, attracting everyone from P Diddy to Kiera Knightly."[4] Friends reported Magnussen missing to police on March 15.[3] Police appealed for a man of Arabic appearance, who Magnussen is believed to have left the club with, to come forward.

In early April 2008, it was still unknown when Magnussen's body were to be returned to Norway from London, UK,[5] but in late April it was known that the body was being returned, and a funeral were to be held in Asker, of Oslo in April/May 2008.[6]

[edit] Suspect

The Scotland Yard wish to question the man that Magnussen left the club with on the night she was murdered, Farouk Abdulhak, the son of billionaire and one of Yemen's wealthiest men, Shaher Abdulhak.[7][8][9] Farouk Abdulhak and Vik Magnussen were seen leaving the Maddox nightclub in the early hours of March 14,[10] and getting into a cab together.[3] He lived in the block of flats where she was found.[2] Police had flight records showing that Farouk Abdulhak left London for Cairo on March 14, and believed he had then fled to Yemen[11][3][12] On Sunday March 23 it was reported that Farouk had appeared at the offices of lawyer Mohammed al Bakwli in Sana'a, capital of Yemen, seeking legal assistance.[13] Mr. al Bakwli says Farouk can be questioned by British authorities, as as long as it happens in Yemen.[14] Per May 2, 2008, Farouk Abdulhak was still wanted by the police for questioning.[12]

[edit] Arrest

On April 30, a man in his 50s was arrested, for suspicion of assisting the offender of the murder.[12]

[edit] Missing items

A number of items Magnussen wore when she was last seen, was not found when police discovered her body. The Scotland Yard has published photos of similar items.[15] The missing items are:Christian Dior earrings, snakeskin shoes, a Marc Jacobs handbag, a Guess watch, a silver costume diamond ring, and her jeans (described as blue and of a "skinny" fit).[16][17][18][19]

[edit] Life of Martine Vik Magnussen

Martine Vik Magnussen was born in Nesøya, in Asker, Norway. She was a student at Kristelig Gymnasium in Oslo, Norway (a private and prestigious Christian school, with earlier students such as Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and Princess Märtha Louise of Norway).[4] One of her friends was the daughter of Norwegian TV host Hallvard Flatland, who was her neighbour in Nesøya. She was also an acquaintance of the daughter of Kjell Inge Røkke, one of Norway's richest men.[20] Magnussen has worked for clothing stores like Ginny in Bygdøy allé in Oslo, and for Massimo Dutti.[21] She was a student at Regent Business School at the time of her death, and at the night of her murder, she was celebrating coming top of her class.[3]

[edit] Yemeni news coverage

According to the Norwegian TV2, the local Arab media in Yemen do not mention a word about the fact that the son of one of the countries richest men, Shaher Abdulhak, is wanted for questioning about the murder of the Norwegian girl. In San‘a’, the capital of Yemen, the case is a non-issue. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, and Shaher Abdulhak is the founder and owner of a Yemen based company that is involved with regional trade and industry, he is the chairman for the hotel Taj Sheba in San‘a’, and is an executive with the Yemen franchise of Pepsi. He has big political influence in San‘a’, with close connections towards the government.[22]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Businessman sought after Martine Vik Magnussen's night at club ends in death, Times Online, March 18, 2008
  2. ^ a b "Police quiz clubbers over Martine", BBC News, 2008-03-21. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Martine Vik Magnussen was strangled after celebrating exam success, Times Online, April 26, 2008
  4. ^ a b "Dead student last seen leaving celebrity nightclub", CNN, 2008-03-18. Retrieved on 2008-03-20. 
  5. ^ Martines båre holdes fortsatt tilbake i England (Norwegian), Aftenposten, April 10, 2008
  6. ^ Martine's body to be returned, Aftenposten, April 22, 2008
  7. ^ Student death police hunt man, 23, BBC News, March 18, 2008
  8. ^ Playboy flees after socialite murder, Herald Sun, March 20, 2008
  9. ^ Family of man sought in student's death hires a lawyer, Aftenposten
  10. ^ "Arab student denies killing Norwegian woman", The Telegraph, 2008-03-25. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 
  11. ^ Tycoon's son wanted over Facebook murder, news.com.au
  12. ^ a b c Arrest made in Martine murder, Aftenposten, May 2, 2008
  13. ^ "Arab student wanted over Martine Vik Magnussen murder found in Yemen", The Daily Telegraph, 2008-03-23. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. 
  14. ^ (Norwegian) "- Vil la seg avhøre i Jemen", Verdens Gang, 2008-03-24. Retrieved on 2008-03-24. 
  15. ^ (Norwegian) "- 21-åring kan ikke utleveres", Adressa, 2008-03-21. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 
  16. ^ "Mystery Swirls Around Norwegian Beauty's Death", ABC News, 2008-03-26. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 
  17. ^ "Martine suspect 'took her gear as trophies'", The Daily Telegraph, 2008-03-22. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 
  18. ^ "Riddle of the dead Norwegian socialite and missing student son", The Herald, March 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 
  19. ^ "Murdered Norwegian socialite Martine Vik Magnussen was semi-naked when her body was found", The Mirror, 2008-03-20. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 
  20. ^ (Norwegian) Ida Johansson and Thomas Olsen. "Kjendisvenner i sjokk", Nettavisen, 2008-03-17. Retrieved on 2008-03-26. 
  21. ^ (Norwegian) "«Vi kjente henne ikke som jetsetter»", Dagbladet, 2008-03-19. Retrieved on 2008-03-26. 
  22. ^ - Redsel i arabiske aviser (Norwegian), TV2, March 20, 2008
Persondata
NAME Martine Vik Magnussen
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION murder victim
DATE OF BIRTH February 6, 1985
PLACE OF BIRTH Nesøya, Asker, Norway
DATE OF DEATH March 14, 2008
PLACE OF DEATH London, England