Police want to confiscate a number of weapons they found in his home in 2020.
On Monday morning, Valen arrives in room 127 of the Oslo District Court with his partner. He is wearing blue jeans, a dark sweater and a Dior scarf which he hangs on the coat rack.
The well-known comedian is accused of serious violation of the Weapons Act, illegal possession of weapons and drug offenses.
Valen flatly replies no when asked if he pleads guilty to the five different charges.
Since the police found the weapons at his Oslo home in 2020, Valen has not wanted to be questioned by the police, Meeg-Bentzen says in his introductory speech.
Weapons and weapon parts will be displayed in court and an expert will demonstrate to the court on Wednesday how weapons work.
VG follows the case and updates this article.
– As we see it, this is a very particular case and it is incomprehensible that it is a case pending before the courts. The weapons charges are what on paper seem the most serious, but the reality is that they are movie props belonging to Valen’s production company, his defender Bernt Heiberg said before the trial.
– He is ready to fight and believes he has done nothing wrong, Heiberg said.
Five days were set aside for court proceedings in the Oslo District Court. Among other things, skits and humorous elements must be presented as evidence.
– In court we will show how these weapons were used. These are not weapons, but props, Heiberg said.
The case was originally due in district court last summer but was postponed following the police widening the charge to cover even more guns.
In total, according to the indictment, the police are now calling for the confiscation of more than 50 weapons.
The list includes, among other things, a variety of pistols, automatic rifles, shotguns and airsoft weapons, as well as a “Eurocop, toy pistol”.
– Some of the weapons are from when he had a weapons license and was allowed to have weapons. When he waived his gun license, he handed the guns over to the police and asked them to seal them before he could get them back, says defense attorney Heiberg and continues:
– Purchased leftover weapons from known arms dealers as pre-sealed props. Was advised that these have been sealed in accordance with regulation.
According to defender Heiberg, the weapons were sealed by the police themselves and reputable arms dealers, and that Valen cannot therefore be held responsible.
