Murder of Martine Vik Magnussen
Encyclopedia
The Martine Vik Magnussen case involves the rape
and 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 on 16 March 2008. She died from compression to the neck, because of strangulation
.
Farouk Abdulhak, the son of billionaire and one of Yemen
's wealthiest men, Shaher Abdulhak
, is the only suspect in the case.
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 Keira Knightley
." Friends reported Magnussen missing to police on 15 March. 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 was to be returned to Norway from London, UK, but in late April it was known that the body was being returned, and a funeral was to be held in Asker, off Oslo in April/May 2008.
wishes 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
. Farouk Abdulhak and Vik Magnussen were seen leaving the Maddox nightclub in the early hours of 14 March, and getting into a cab together. He lived in the block of flats where she was found. Police have flight records showing that Farouk Abdulhak left London for Cairo
on 14 March, and believe he then fled to Yemen On Sunday 23 March it was reported that Farouk had appeared at the offices of lawyer Mohammed al Bakwli in Sana'a
, capital of Yemen, seeking legal assistance. Mr. al Bakwli says Farouk can be questioned by British authorities, as long as it happens in Yemen. Farouk was mentioned as a suspect by the British police for the first time on 23 June 2008. On 30 July 2008, he was officially named a suspect by the Metropolitan Police
, and listed as wanted on Scotland Yard's "Wanted" site.
Abdulhak is understood by the police (per 30 July 2008) to be living in Yemen. The government in Yemen is aware of the UK's request to question Abdulhak, however the UK does not have an extradition agreement with Yemen. A demonstration in Oslo on 1 December 2009 called for further action from Norwegian authorities.
has published photos of similar items. 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).
, in Asker
, Norway
. Her father was self-employed, and his small one-man business produced a ski sledge for transportation of people on snow. Despite being erroneously described by the British press as a "socialite
", Martine Vik Magnussen had an ordinary nor wealthy background. The Mail on Sunday also misleadingly described her father as "chief executive officer for a company that makes rescue equipment for Nato", despite the fact that he was the only employee and that the company was listed with zero income the last couple of years. The Magnussen family lived with Martine's grandmother.
She was a former student at Kristelig Gymnasium
in Oslo
, Norway, a private Christian school. Magnussen has worked for clothing retail stores in Oslo
, and for Massimo Dutti
. In 2006, she went to Poland to study medicine, but quit the studies after six months. In early 2007, she went to London, where she worked for six months, before she commenced her studies at Regent Business School
in autumn 2007. At the night of her murder, she was celebrating coming top of her class.
On 10 June 2010 her father paid tribute to the Metropolitan Police and the British authorities at a remembrance event hosted by her family at Regent's College and unveiled a tree planted in her memory. Mr Vik Magnussen also revealed that he was still engrossed in a battle to change the laws which he said have allowed the man suspected of his daughter's killing, Farooq Abdulhak, to get away.
, 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 regarding the death of Magnussen. 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 Coca-Cola
. He has big political influence in San‘a’, with close connections to the government.
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of a 23-year-old Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
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
Great Portland Street
Great Portland Street is a street in the West End of London. Linking Oxford Street with Albany Street and the busy A501 Marylebone Road and Euston Road, the road forms the boundary between Fitzrovia to the east and Marylebone to the west...
, London on 16 March 2008. She died from compression to the neck, because of strangulation
Strangling
Strangling is compression of the neck that may lead to unconsciousness or death by causing an increasingly hypoxic state in the brain. Fatal strangling typically occurs in cases of violence, accidents, and as the auxiliary lethal mechanism in hangings in the event the neck does not break...
.
Farouk Abdulhak, the son of billionaire and one of Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
's wealthiest men, Shaher Abdulhak
Shaher Abdulhak
Shaher Abdulhak is a Yemeni businessman. He is one of the wealthiest men in the country, and is well connected also politically. Since March 2008, Abdulhak's son Farouk is wanted for the murder of fellow student Martine Vik Magnussen in London...
, is the only suspect in the case.
Murder and investigation
Magnussen was last seen alive sometime between 0200 and 0300 GMT on 14 March at the Maddox nightclub in London's wealthy MayfairMayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
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 Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 1985) is an English actress and model. She began acting as a child and came to international notice in 2002 after co-starring in the film Bend It Like Beckham...
." Friends reported Magnussen missing to police on 15 March. 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 was to be returned to Norway from London, UK, but in late April it was known that the body was being returned, and a funeral was to be held in Asker, off Oslo in April/May 2008.
Suspect
Scotland YardScotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
wishes 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
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
's wealthiest men, Shaher Abdulhak
Shaher Abdulhak
Shaher Abdulhak is a Yemeni businessman. He is one of the wealthiest men in the country, and is well connected also politically. Since March 2008, Abdulhak's son Farouk is wanted for the murder of fellow student Martine Vik Magnussen in London...
. Farouk Abdulhak and Vik Magnussen were seen leaving the Maddox nightclub in the early hours of 14 March, and getting into a cab together. He lived in the block of flats where she was found. Police have flight records showing that Farouk Abdulhak left London for Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
on 14 March, and believe he then fled to Yemen On Sunday 23 March it was reported that Farouk had appeared at the offices of lawyer Mohammed al Bakwli in Sana'a
Sana'a
-Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:...
, capital of Yemen, seeking legal assistance. Mr. al Bakwli says Farouk can be questioned by British authorities, as long as it happens in Yemen. Farouk was mentioned as a suspect by the British police for the first time on 23 June 2008. On 30 July 2008, he was officially named a suspect by the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
, and listed as wanted on Scotland Yard's "Wanted" site.
Abdulhak is understood by the police (per 30 July 2008) to be living in Yemen. The government in Yemen is aware of the UK's request to question Abdulhak, however the UK does not have an extradition agreement with Yemen. A demonstration in Oslo on 1 December 2009 called for further action from Norwegian authorities.
Arrest
On 30 April 2008, a man in his 50s was arrested, for suspicion of assisting the murderer.Missing items
A number of items Magnussen wore when she was last seen, were not found when police discovered her body. The Scotland YardScotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
has published photos of similar items. The missing items are:Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
earrings, snakeskin
Snakeskin
Snakeskin may refer to:*Snakeskin, a material that is made from the skin of a snake*Snakeskin , a song by Australian band Gyroscope*Snakeskin , a New Zealand film*Snakeskin , a side project of Tilo Wolff from Lacrimosa*Snakeskin Glacier...
shoes, a Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs is an American fashion designer. He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, with more than 200 retail stores in 60 countries. He has been the creative director of the French design house Louis Vuitton since 1997...
handbag
Handbag
A handbag, or purse in American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag that is often fashionably designed, typically used by women, to hold personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, cosmetics, a hairbrush, pepper spray, cigarettes, mobile phone etc....
, a Guess watch, a silver costume diamond ring
Diamond ring
Diamond ring or This Diamond Ring or Diamond Rings may refer to:Jewelry*Diamond ring, a type of jewelry featuring a diamond. For this usage, see also engagement ring.Media...
, and her jeans
Jeans
Jeans are trousers made from denim. Some of the earliest American blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis, Calvin Rogers, and Levi Strauss in 1873. Starting in the 1950s, jeans, originally designed for cowboys, became popular among teenagers. Historic brands include Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler...
(described as blue and of a "skinny" fit).
Life of Martine Vik Magnussen
Martine Vik Magnussen was born in NesøyaNesøya
Nesøya is a small island in the municipality Asker, Norway. It is linked to the mainland via a bridge.The island is known for having a number of celebrities and members of the Norwegian financial elite among its residents....
, in Asker
Asker
Asker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Viken traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Asker. The municipality is a suburb of Oslo, the national capital...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Her father was self-employed, and his small one-man business produced a ski sledge for transportation of people on snow. Despite being erroneously described by the British press as a "socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
", Martine Vik Magnussen had an ordinary nor wealthy background. The Mail on Sunday also misleadingly described her father as "chief executive officer for a company that makes rescue equipment for Nato", despite the fact that he was the only employee and that the company was listed with zero income the last couple of years. The Magnussen family lived with Martine's grandmother.
She was a former student at Kristelig Gymnasium
Kristelig Gymnasium
Kristelig Gymnasium , founded in 1913, is a private Christian school located in Oslo, Norway.The school offers 3 years of studies at the level of Videregående skole, in addition to grades 8, 9 and 10 ....
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway, a private Christian school. Magnussen has worked for clothing retail stores in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, and for Massimo Dutti
Massimo Dutti
Massimo Dutti is a company belonging to the Spanish Inditex group dedicated to the manufacturing of clothing. It was created in 1985 and its product range was limited to men's clothing....
. In 2006, she went to Poland to study medicine, but quit the studies after six months. In early 2007, she went to London, where she worked for six months, before she commenced her studies at Regent Business School
Regent Business School
For the Regent's Business School in London - see Regent's Business School London.Regent Business School is a private institution focused on postgraduate management education in South Africa. At the undergraduate level, RBS offers the Bachelor of Commerce degree, in addition to various certificate...
in autumn 2007. At the night of her murder, she was celebrating coming top of her class.
On 10 June 2010 her father paid tribute to the Metropolitan Police and the British authorities at a remembrance event hosted by her family at Regent's College and unveiled a tree planted in her memory. Mr Vik Magnussen also revealed that he was still engrossed in a battle to change the laws which he said have allowed the man suspected of his daughter's killing, Farooq Abdulhak, to get away.
Yemeni news coverage
According to the Norwegian TV channel TV2TV 2 (Norway)
TV 2 is the largest commercial television station in Norway. Over 30% of the time Norwegians spend watching TV is spent watching TV 2. The station has 65% of the market for TV commercials in Norway....
, the local Arab media in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
do not mention a word about the fact that the son of one of the countries richest men, Shaher Abdulhak
Shaher Abdulhak
Shaher Abdulhak is a Yemeni businessman. He is one of the wealthiest men in the country, and is well connected also politically. Since March 2008, Abdulhak's son Farouk is wanted for the murder of fellow student Martine Vik Magnussen in London...
, is wanted for questioning regarding the death of Magnussen. 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
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
for the hotel Taj Sheba in San‘a’, and is an executive with the Yemen franchise of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
. He has big political influence in San‘a’, with close connections to the government.
External links
- Scotland Yard's Wanted - Farouk Abdulhak at the Metropolitan Police ServiceMetropolitan Police ServiceThe Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
- JusticeForMartine.com, made by friends of Martine Vik Magnussen