on 16 january 2018, madsen was charged with murder, indecent handling of a corpse, and sexual assault. the prosecution accused him of having tortured wall before killing her by cutting her throat or strangling her. his trial began on 8 march at copenhagen court house. on 25 april, he was convicted of all three charges and sentenced to life imprisonment. madsen appealed his sentence and on 26 september østre landsret, high court of eastern denmark, upheld the sentence.