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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Emily Pennink

Norwegian footballer tells jurors he is ‘no cold-blooded hitman’

Undated handout photo oof Johannes Natland, 19, Issue date: Wednesday June 10, 2026. - (PA Media)

A Norwegian footballer accused of travelling to England to carry out a “hit” for a gang linked to Iran has told jurors he is “no international assassin” or “cold-blooded hitman”.

Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, was “terrified” and would have shot himself in the foot to get out of the “pickle” he was in while desperate for drug money, the Old Bailey heard.

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