The parties have been summoned to an oral hearing in the country’s supreme court all day on the 17th and half of the day on 18 June.
In principle, the prosecuting authority will argue why Kristiansen must be kept in prison while they process the reopened case, as The Borgarting Court of Appeal upheld them before Kristiansen appealed the case to the Supreme Court.
Kristiansen’s longtime defender, lawyer Arvid Sjødin, does not have the right to appear before the Supreme Court. Therefore, his colleague Bjørn André Gulstad will take the case as a trial case.
– This is a fundamentally important matter to be clarified, at the same time as it is of great importance to our client. It is gratifying that the Supreme Court has let it in for oral consideration, Gulstad says to TV 2.
Complicated questions
For the prosecuting authority, the release case is another legal issue to consider in the already very complicated Baneheia case.
- By 12 June, they must decide whether they will request extended detention for Kristiansen, because it will then be three months until he has completed his 21-year detention sentence in September.
- Within the next few months, the prosecuting authority must decide whether they will file a new trial to prove Kristiansen’s guilt, or whether they will ask for an acquittal without a trial.
The public prosecutors Andreas Schei and Johan Øverberg took over the case earlier this year, shortly after the criminal case was reopened.
– EXPERIENCED: State Attorney Andreas Schei, together with colleague Johan Øverberg, spends much of the spring getting acquainted with the Baneheia case. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
–
The two have thus opposed Kristiansen’s request for release pending further processing of the case.
Nevertheless, they have not decided whether to ask for an extension of detention – a decision they must make for the issue of release is dealt with by the Supreme Court.
Meeting on Friday
State Attorney Schei confirms to TV 2 that they are in the process of their assessments, but he also holds the cards close to his chest.
“We must return to the prosecution’s position on the issue of extension and the question of release,” says Schei.
– Can you get a situation where you do not ask for extended detention, but still appear in the Supreme Court and argue that Kristiansen must be imprisoned for the time being, until 12 September, to safeguard social protection?
– These are things we must return to, he answers.
– MEET HERE: Five judges in the Supreme Court will decide whether Viggo Kristiansen (41) will now be released. Photo: Trond Reidar Teigen / NTB
–
Next Friday, the prosecution and defense attorney Gulstad will have a preparatory meeting at the Supreme Court.
– There we will talk to the prosecuting authority and clarify how we will use the time, what evidence may be presented, and other things that are important for the time that the individual lawyer is allocated, Gulstad says.
About 10 investigators
Two weeks ago could TV 2 tell that the Oslo police district is in the process of concrete investigative steps in the Baneheia case – more than 21 years after the child killings.
The Oslo Police District states that they have about 10 investigators working on the case, but neither the police nor Schei want to say anything about what they are investigating.
– Are you any closer to deciding whether there will be a new trial against Kristiansen?
– An investigation is being carried out into the case, and it has not been completed. In a few months, we will write a recommendation to the Attorney General, who has the final say in the case, says Schei.
–
