In brief
A 19‑year‑old Norwegian boy, Johannes Kongsnes Natland, was charged with arranging a hit in England for an Iranian‑backed gang. A jury in Huddersfield could not reach a verdict after nearly 15 hours of deliberation, and the judge discharged them. Natland was remanded into custody while prosecutors prepare a retrial. The case highlights cross‑border crime and the difficulties of securing a verdict in a high‑profile murder conspiracy.
A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a Norwegian teenager accused of travelling to England to carry out a killing on behalf of an international crime gang backed by Iran.
Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, allegedly agreed with the Swedish Foxes gang to shoot an unknown target for 25,000 euros (£21,500) in March last year.
Two days after arriving in the UK, armed police swooped to arrest him at a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and seized two guns and 12 live bullets.
Natland admitted possession of the firearms and ammunition but denied conspiracy to murder. Prosecutors said the Crown would seek a retrial and Natland was remanded into custody.
Jurors retired to deliberate on a verdict on Tuesday morning and were given a majority direction by Mr Justice Lavender earlier.
Shortly before 15:00 BST, the senior judge discharged the jury after it failed to reach a verdict following 14 hours and 43 minutes in retirement.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
