The star witness in the trial of sixteen members of biker gangs took to the stand on Monday under heavy police protection.
The 25-year-old, identified only by his initials, MFP, who has confessed to being involved in five attempted murders and two assaults, spoke to a cleared court in Glostrup with press, spectators and defendants listening to his testimony over speakers in rooms around the court building.
Starting ten days of testimony, MFP explained that it was a combination of guilt from his crimes and fear that something may happen to his girlfriend or parents that made him want to confess.
Questioned by the prosecutor about whether it was permitted by the Hells Angels to speak to his girlfriend about the attacks he took part in, he answered:
“I had to talk about the things I had done and I couldn’t with other gang members, because everyone wanted to be hardcore. So I spoke to my girlfriend about it. It is against the Hells Angels codex. What happens in the club stays in the club but I had a heavy stone I wanted to move from my heart.”
But he knew that by talking about his deeds he had placed himself in danger.
“I know these people well and I know what they’re capable of. I’ve had many nasty experiences with them and seen how they can plan things. So I knew what I had to fear especially for those closest to me.”
Both his parents and girlfriend have been questioned by police in the case.
A week last Thursday the court heard from the police what made MFP come forward initially.
While in jail for a assaulting a 24-year-year old man in 2009, MFP chose to confess to the non-gang related attack.
But police phone taps of fellow gang members revealed how he was being suspected of betraying them, with one gang member recorded as saying: “I’m not judging him, but it looks like he’s snitched.”
When MFP suddenly started receiving less mail and support from gang members outside jail, the police decided to inform him that he was in danger.
“We were under the impression that it wasn’t a question of whether something would happen to him but when,” a police officer from Copenhagen’s gang unit told the court.
After consulting with his lawyer, MFP decided to cooperate with the police.
His current conviction was reduced to twelve years from life after cooperating with police. But he revealed on Monday how he initially hoped to have his sentence reduced to eight years for his confession.
But according to MFP a reduced sentence was not his only reason for confessing. He told the court how the crimes he performed for the Hells Angels conflicted with his upbringing.
“I want to make a difference. I hope with all my heart that I can,” he said.
The court case, which is set to run through to September, is the largest criminal action ever taken against gangs in Denmark.
Among the 16 defendants from the Hells Angel and the affiliated AK81 gang is the notorious Brian Sandberg who was the target of two attempts on his life in 2009 before his arrest in 2010 for allegedly ordering two murders.
