Newly released documents from the U.S. Department of Justice concerning Jeffrey Epstein's activities have shed light on potential connections to the unsolved 2008 murder of a London student. The files indicate Epstein maintained a relationship with Shaher Abdulhak, the father of the prime suspect in the killing, and may have facilitated legal counsel for his son.
Martine Vik Magnussen, a 23-year-old Norwegian student, was found murdered in March 2008, two days after she was last seen leaving a London nightclub with Farouk Abdulhak, the son of a Yemeni billionaire. Her body was discovered in the basement of his apartment building, with evidence suggesting a violent struggle. She had finished at the top of her university class and was celebrating the end of exam season.
Within hours of Magnussen's disappearance, Farouk Abdulhak reportedly left London on a flight to Cairo, eventually traveling to Yemen on his father's private jet. Shaher Abdulhak, a prominent businessman in Yemen's sugar industry, had connections with the country's then-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who allegedly granted his son citizenship, thereby preventing his extradition to the UK. Yemen does not have an extradition treaty with the United Kingdom.
Martine's father, Odd Petter Magnussen, has spent nearly two decades petitioning authorities in Britain, Norway, and Yemen to bring Farouk Abdulhak to justice. The investigation had stalled until recent revelations emerged from the Epstein files.
Email exchanges reportedly show Epstein was in contact with Shaher Abdulhak and appears to have connected him with legal advice for his son. These communications suggest Epstein put Shaher in touch with Ken Macdonald, a former chief prosecutor for Tony Blair. Macdonald has stated that his involvement was limited to urging Farouk Abdulhak to return to Britain to face charges and denied discussing the case directly with Epstein, though some emails appear to reference a call between them.
These developments are explored in a new podcast, "On The Case," which features interviews with the Daily Mail reporters who uncovered the email exchanges and delves into Magnussen's case. The podcast includes contributions from Martine's father, Odd Petter Magnussen, recounting his long pursuit of answers.