A Russian woman has taken to Facebook to defend her relationship with Peter Madsen, who in 2018 received a life sentence for sexually assaulting and murdering the journalist Kim Wall. Writing on social media, Jenny Curpen, who reportedly lives in self-imposed exile in Finland, called Madsen her husband.
In her post she writes: 'My personal life is not anyone’s business. Next time you will give yourself right to bother strangers with actions like mentioned above, you should be ready for being treated the same way. I love and respect my husband, I am proud of him and 49 years of his human and professional life except for one day that was and always will stay a tragedy. My husband committed a horrible crime and he is punished for that. However, knowing him for real give me an exclusive right to say that I am lucky to be with the most beautiful, smart, talented, devoted and empathetic person and man ever. [sic]'
She then goes on to describe Madsen as a victim of the crime, writing: 'My husband is the one of two victims of his crime and staying alive was a punishment itself for him, not a reward, not luck. So, I must admit with deep sorrow that the society outside the prison walls is much more cruel and potentially dangerous to itself than the hero of today's modest celebration.'
This isn't the only time that Curpen has commented on her solidarity with Madsen. Back in 2018 she wrote (as part of an art project), 'Supporting the guilty one, calling him a friend, we smash 'normality' into pieces, diversify the symbolic capital of culture, engage in cultural terrorism, essentially the only truly effective form of peaceful resistance.' However she has clarified since that the marriage is not part of the art project.
Madsen admits to dismembering Kim Wall's body, but maintains that she died in an accident onboard his submarine. He is currently in prison near Copenhagen. Kim Wall was a 30-year-old Swedish journalist who had won acclaim and awards for her work.
READ MORE: Can a TV show about Kim Wall avoid the pitfalls of other true crime documentaries?