Kærshovedgård resident sentenced to prison for negligent manslaughter

A 35-year-old man was today sentenced to six years of unconditional imprisonment for negligent manslaughter under particularly aggravating circumstances at the Court in Herning. The verdict also includes the man being permanently expelled from Denmark.

The accident took place on April 24, 2024, on Vejlevej near Nørre Snede, where the 35-year-old man, who was a resident at the Kærshovedgård Removal Center at the time, collided with an oncoming car driven by a 55-year-old woman while attempting to overtake. The woman died in the collision.

According to the verdict, the man attempted the overtake despite the presence of double lines and a traffic sign indicating no overtaking. At the time of the accident, he was driving at a speed of approximately 111 kilometers per hour in a 90 km/h zone and was also under the influence of the consciousness-altering substance THC.

“It’s difficult to talk about being satisfied in cases like this. Regardless of the verdict the court would have reached, it may not change much for the bereaved. But in my opinion, the sentence is in line with established practice,” said senior prosecutor at the prosecution office of Midt- and Vestjyllands Politi, Flemming Hother.

In addition to negligent manslaughter, the 35-year-old was also convicted of reckless driving, driving under the influence of THC, driving without a license, as well as two counts of breaching control obligations at the Kærshovedgård Removal Center. He appealed the verdict on the spot.

The Kærshovedgård Removal Center is operated by the Danish Prison and Probation Service and is one of two removal centers for rejected asylum seekers in Denmark. The center is open but with 24-hour staffing, video surveillance, and access control. Residents are not deprived of their liberty and can come and go freely, but they are generally subject to a residence obligation, meaning they must live and stay at the center.