A Norwegian 19-year-old accused of plotting a contract killing in England must face a retrial after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict, Oslo’s Aftenposten reported on Thursday. The Stavanger man, whose identity remains protected, was charged with planning to murder on behalf of the Foxtrot criminal network, but the 12-member jury could not agree on whether he intended to carry out the act. His defence team has now formally requested that the case be transferred to Norway, arguing that the defendant’s ties to the country justify a domestic trial.
The retrial date has not been set, and the accused remains in custody pending further proceedings. According to court documents cited by NRK, a Norwegian 17-year-old already serving 14 years in Norway for other offences is alleged to have recruited the 19-year-old. The younger man, whose identity is also protected, was convicted in May 2026 and is not directly involved in the British proceedings. The 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to illegal firearm possession but denies the more serious charge of conspiracy to commit murder.
Legal experts note that the Foxtrot network, a transnational organised crime group active across Scandinavia and the UK, has become a focal point for prosecutors in multiple jurisdictions. Earlier this week, a Swedish court sentenced Poya Shafie, a senior Foxtrot leader, to life imprisonment for his role in the organisation’s operations, underscoring the group’s prominence in current European crime enforcement.
Meanwhile, the British Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that the retrial will proceed under the same indictment, with no changes to the charges. The presiding judge has instructed the jury to disregard any external pressures and focus solely on the evidence presented. Defence lawyer Saqib Razaq of Elden Advokatfirma reiterated his client’s request for a transfer to Norway, citing the defendant’s Norwegian citizenship and the fact that key witnesses and evidence are located there.
The case highlights the growing complexity of cross-border prosecutions in organised crime, where jurisdictional disputes and legal delays can prolong proceedings for years. With the retrial still months away, the 19-year-old’s legal team is expected to file additional motions in the coming weeks, potentially escalating the matter to the European Court of Human Rights if the transfer request is denied.
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