Out of thin air : a true story of impossible murder in Iceland

In 1974, two men vanished without a trace under suspicious circumstances, shocking the people of Iceland, where serious crime is almost non-existent. More than a year later, there seemed to be a breakthrough when a small-time crook named Erla Bolladottir described a dream to police that they interpreted as a sign of trauma related to the men’s disappearance. After lengthy interrogations, investigations, and courtroom dramas, Bolladottir and five acquaintances confessed to killing both men and were given prison sentences ranging from three years to life. But over the years the case against the convicted six began to disintegrate, and one major question remained unanswered: Why had they all confessed to murder if they hadn’t done it? Out of Thin Air joins Bolladottir in the present day as she pursues her exoneration, exploring the many facets of this bizarre and bewildering case and the social and cultural history of Iceland, a country of vast landscapes, extreme weather, and strange folklore, where more than eighty per cent of the population believes that elves might exist. In 1974, Two Men Vanished Without A Trace Under Suspicious Circumstances, Shocking The People Of Iceland, Where Serious Crime Is Almost Non-existent. More Than A Year Later There Seemed To Be A Breakthrough When A Small-time Crook Named Erla Bolladottir Described A Dream To Police That They Interpreted As A Sign Of Trauma Related To The Men’s Disappearance. After Lengthy Interrogations, Investigations And Courtroom Dramas, Erla And Five Acquaintances Confessed To Killing Both Men And Were Given Prison Sentences Ranging From Three Years To Life. But Over The Years The Case Against The Convicted Six Began To Disintegrate, And One Major Question Remained Unanswered: Why Had They All Confessed To Murder If They Hadn’t Done It? Out Of Thin Air Joins Erla In The Present Day As She Pursues Her Exoneration, Exploring The Many Facets Of This Bizarre And Bewildering Case And The Social And Cultural History Of Iceland, A Country Of Vast Landscapes, Extreme Weather And Strange Folklore, Where More Than Eighty Per Cent Of The Population Believes That Elves Might Exist. In December 1975, While Interrogating A Young Couple About An Unrelated Fraud Case, Icelandic Police Decided To Take One Of The Interviewees Aside For A Different Line Of Questioning. They Showed 20-year-old Erla Bolladottir A Picture Of A Man Who Disappeared Nearly 2 Years Before And To Their Surprise She Admitted That She Knew Him And That On The Night He Went Missing She Dreamt That Her Boyfirend Was Standing Outside Her Room Talking With His Friends About The Missing Man. The Police Were Convinced She Was Repressing Traumatic Memories, The Aftermath Of A Murder -- But Where Was The Truth In This Nightmare. Six People Were Convicted And After 2 Trials The Question Remained If The Six Didn't Commit Murder Why Did They Confess? Anthony Adeane. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 1974. In two separate incidents, two men vanished into thin air. Then, out of it, came six murder confessions and six convictions. Yet in the decades that followed, these too evaporated. Anthony Adeane explores the stranger-than-fiction story that has unravelled in Iceland across forty-five years. He provides the first full account of the case, paints a fascinating picture of the country - covering its history, landscape, law, media, domestic politics and geopolitical importance - and places each development in the contexts that shaped them: from the Cod Wars to the Cold War, the 2008 economic crash and beyond. Using unprecedented access, he exposes the mistakes that were made, the lives that were ruined, the questions that remain unanswered, and the headlines that continue to be printed