A new podcast, "On The Case," is set to re-examine the unsolved murder of Martine Vik Magnussen, a 23-year-old Norwegian student whose 2008 death in London has resurfaced due to newly released files concerning Jeffrey Epstein.
Martine was last seen alive in the early hours of March 14, 2008, leaving the Maddox nightclub in Mayfair with coursemate Farouk Abdulhak. She had been celebrating the end of her university exam season, having excelled academically. Her body was discovered two days later, partially clothed and buried under rubble in the basement of Abdulhak's London apartment building. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled, with evidence of a violent struggle.
Within hours of Martine's disappearance, Farouk Abdulhak reportedly fled the UK. He first flew to Cairo and then continued to Yemen on his father's private jet. His father, Shaher Abdulhak, was a prominent businessman with significant influence in Yemen's sugar industry. Due to Shaher Abdulhak's alleged friendship with then-Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Farouk was reportedly granted Yemeni citizenship while evading authorities. Yemen does not have an extradition treaty with the United Kingdom, hindering efforts to bring him back to face charges.
Martine's father, Odd Petter Magnussen, has spent 18 years petitioning British, Norwegian, and Yemeni authorities to bring Abdulhak to justice. The investigation has reportedly gained new momentum following the release of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice related to Jeffrey Epstein's activities.
Investigative reporting for the Daily Mail uncovered email exchanges suggesting a close relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Shaher Abdulhak. These communications reportedly indicate that Epstein may have facilitated legal advice for Farouk Abdulhak. The emails also appear to show Epstein connecting Shaher Abdulhak with Ken Macdonald, former chief prosecutor for Tony Blair. Macdonald has stated his involvement was limited to urging Abdulhak to return to Britain to face legal proceedings, and he denies discussing the case directly with Epstein, despite email references to a potential phone call between them.
Reporter Piriyanga Thirunimalan traveled to Norway to speak with Martine's father about his long search for answers. These interviews, combined with a detailed examination of the case, form the basis of the "On The Case" podcast. The podcast, hosted by Alex Matthews, features interviews with award-winning crime reporters from the Daily Mail, delving into significant investigations. The first episode, focusing on the Magnussen case, is scheduled to launch.
