Norwegian Teenager Held on Hit‑Man Charge When Jury Hung

Thu Jun 18 2026 18:49:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Jury could not reach verdict in trial of Norwegian teen linked to an Iranian‑backed crime gang; he remains in custody awaiting retrial.

Johannes Natland, a 19‑year‑old Norwegian, was arrested in Huddersfield after allegedly agreeing to shoot a target in England for 25,000 € on behalf of a gang backed by Iran. The courtroom was unable to reach a verdict after 14 hours of deliberation, and the judge discharges the jury. The Crown will seek a retrial and Natland has been remanded in custody. This case highlights the reach of transnational organised crime and the challenges of securing convictions on complex conspiracies.

A jury in the United Kingdom failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a Norwegian teenager accused of travelling to England to carry out a murder on behalf of an international crime gang backed by Iran.

Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, is alleged to have struck a deal with the Swedish Foxes gang in March to execute an unnamed target in exchange for 25,000 euros (£21,500). He was arrested just two days after arriving in the UK, when armed police seized two guns and 12 live rounds from a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

Natland admitted possession of the firearms and ammunition but denied any conspiracy to murder. Prosecutors said the Crown would seek a retrial, and Natland has been remanded into custody.

Jury members retired to deliberate on a verdict on Tuesday morning. After 14 hours and 43 minutes of retirement, the senior judge, Mr Justice Lavender, discharged the jury at 15:00 BST. No decision was reached.

The case underscores the difficulty of proving complex conspiratorial arrangements and the importance of strong evidence in securing convictions for organised crime.