The suspect: Billist, who rammed a crowd in Copenhagen, is insane.

The 76-year-old man admits to driving the car but denies responsibility for the charges.

In April last year, a group of people spent an afternoon near Sortedam Dossering in Copenhagen when a car suddenly crashed into the crowd. (Photo: © Emil Nicolai Helms, Ritzau Scanpix)

According to the Prosecution, 17 people were injured when a then 75-year-old man drove into a crowd at Sortedam Dossering in Copenhagen on April 30 last year.

Today, the case has been brought before Copenhagen City Court, where it will be determined whether it was reckless driving.

During the proceedings, it has emerged that the accused, now 76, has since been diagnosed with a specific form of dementia. This is stated in a note from a senior physician, according to defense attorney Anders Boelskifte, who wishes to call the senior physician as a witness.

"He received a diagnosis that is not a common one. It is called frontal lobe dementia, and this form of dementia is typically not recognized by the person affected by the illness. This also means that their ability to make rational decisions is reduced," says Boelskifte.

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Denies responsibility for the charges

The defense attorney believes the diagnosis could be relevant to the case.

"It matters for the assessment of negligence, because it is claimed that he caused this accident through gross negligence," says the defender.

The prosecutor argues that it was reckless driving, and that the accused was unable to drive in a safe manner due to illness, weakness, or lack of sleep.

On that basis, he is charged with negligent bodily harm under aggravating circumstances.

The 76-year-old man admits to driving the car but denies responsibility for the charges.

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