False Memories: The Guðmundur and Geirfinnur Case
One of the greatest miscarriages of justice in European history, the Reykjavík Confessions led to the imprisonment of six innocent people.
There are many reasons that people read true crime accounts. Some are attracted to the history behind the case, the sense of time and place, and how that case affected society. Others like to read about police methodology and their successes and failings. However, many find fascination in what true crime says about us as human beings. These insights come from killers, victims, families, and detectives alike, with readers wondering how different human minds come together to create the unique situations behind the stories.
These insights have produced books, documentaries, drama, and more, with each author promising a deep insight into the mind of a killer. However, one affair that could be argued stands above all others as a study of human nature — the Guðmundur and Geirfinnur case.
The Guðmundur and Geirfinnur case is a prime example of how the human mind can be influenced and the tragic consequences of what happens when police fail in their duty to the law, essentially becoming criminals themselves in their pursuit of false justice.