While Varg Vikerenes was expected to stand trial Thursday for allegations of racial hatred and exalting war crimes, his lawyers have managed to get the date pushed back until June, according to the BBC. Defense for the Norwegian black metal frontman requested more time to go over documents and prepare for his case. French courts responded, granting the associated Neo-Nazi with a June 2014 trial date.
Vikernes, lead singer for the band Burzum, was arrested in July on allegations that he was prepping for a “major terrorist attack” after his wife was detained for buying four rifles and connections were made between Vikernes and Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik.
But Vikernes’ rap sheet chronicles more than just ideologies and alleged plots. He has already served 15 years of a 21-year prison sentence from which he was released from custody in 2009, for the murder of Øystein “Euronymous” Aarseth, guitar player for the Norwegian black-metal band Mayhem. Vikernes was also found guilty of the arson of three churches.
Citing wrongful arrest by French authorities for the new batch of charges, Vikernes started a crowdfunding campaign to help with legal battles. However, goal amounts may likely change to correspond with the lengthy time period of defense on the horizon.
