History 5

Radio Mercur - History (5)

1963

On 1st January 1963 the Danish state radio system, Danmarks Radio, started Melody Radio (later Programme 3), with a format remarkably similar to Mercur's, but of course without any commercials. Many of the former Radio Mercur staff were, however, taken on by Danmarks Radio to present Melody Radio.

By spring 1963 the Danish authorities turned their attention to the individuals said to be responsible for the broadcasts in August 1962. At a hearing on 7th May 1963 Benny Knusden and Alex Brask Thomsen were accused o being resopnsible - both pleaded ‘not guilty’. In court Knusden said Thomsen had paid him to arrange the broadcasts, but Thomsen argued that he had only paid Knusden to sail the Cheeta 2 (which Thomsen now owned) to Flensburg in preparation for a new role as an offshore station serving Greece. ( A meeting had taken place with Prince Peter of Greece to establish an offshore station designed to boost support for the Greek Royal family, who were hugely unpopular in the country at the time).

The case was adjourned to another hearing on 29th May when Benny Knusden changed his evidence and acknowledged that Thomsen had paid him only to sail the Cheeta 2 to Flensburg. However in the judgement delivered on 4th June 1963 the court found that, despite Knusden’s amended evidence, Alex Brask Thomsen was the mastermind behind the illegal broadcasts and he was fined 20,000 Kroner. Knusden was fined 3,000 Kroner for his involvement, while the other two accused, ship’s captain, Dan Kranker and engineer, Leif Knudsen were each fined 300 Kroner.

1964

An appeal was heard in the High Court on 13th March 1964 when Thomsen’s original conviction was overturned and the fine withdrawn. The Court accepted that Benny Knusden had given false information against Thomsen at the original hearing in May 1963 and found that there was no evidence linking Thomsen to the broadcasts. The convictions of the other three defendants (Benny Knusden, Dan Kranker and Leif Knusden were however, upheld.