Accused in Iceland Murder Trial: Family Considered Bridge Jump Suicide

Ming Ting Mancel revealed in Reykjavík District Court that she and her family contemplated suicide by jumping from a bridge during their visit to Iceland. However, they deemed it unsuitable due to the summer season, which offered no cover of night for the act.

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They considered jumping from a bridge, and also looked into obtaining poison to ingest.

Mancel is currently on trial, accused of murdering her daughter, Cathrine, in collusion with her husband, Emeric. Both were found deceased in their hotel room at the Edition Hotel in downtown Reykjavík on June 14 last year. Mancel testified in her native language, with a court interpreter present.

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The decision to stab Cathrine in the heart was made the same evening they decided to take their own lives.

The indictment states that Mancel allegedly used a noose around her daughter Cathrine's neck and stabbed her twice in the chest, with one of the wounds proving fatal to the heart. Mancel claimed the decision to stab Cathrine in the heart was made the same evening they decided to end their own lives. She stated that Cathrine would have preferred a less painful method, but was aware of the plan for a joint suicide. The family had discussed various methods before their trip, including jumping from a bridge and obtaining poison.

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She wanted to die first. She did not want to be left alone alive.

Mancel testified that her husband, Emeric, ultimately decided on the method and informed their daughter. Cathrine reportedly requested to die first, not wanting to be left alone. Mancel described Emeric delivering the first stab wound to Cathrine in the hotel bathroom while she sat on a chair. Afterward, they moved their daughter to the hotel bed, where they offered her sleeping pills and alcohol to ease the pain. Mancel stated that Cathrine showed bravery and did not complain after the first stab, accepting the sedatives and alcohol, despite rarely consuming alcohol throughout her life.

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The purpose of offering Cathrine alcohol and medication was to ease the pain.