The man in his thirties worked as an elementary school teacher at a school in Bergen. He was a teacher for six of the offended children.
During the trial, prosecutor Celin Hauge Andersen asked for five and a half years of imprisonment for the teacher.
– We acknowledge that the verdict does not agree with what we have argued and that the district court does not agree with us, especially when it comes to sentencing. We will use the appeal term. The final decision will be the State Prosecutor’s Office. I will now review the judgment and then submit my recommendation, Andersen told NRK Thursday night.
Cecilie Wallevik is a close relatives assistance attorney. They believed the prosecutor’s claim was low and strongly react to the fact that it is now lower.
– They are disappointed with the sentence, says Wallevik.
The defender of the man Einar Råen is satisfied instead.
– My client is very pleased that the court has reduced the sentence in relation to the prosecutor’s claim of 5.5 years of imprisonment. I believe the punishment to a greater extent than the prosecutor’s claim is correct, he tells NRK.
Was BT who first announced the verdict on Thursday afternoon.
8-9 years
The court lists several reasons why they reduced the sentence.
First of all, the former teacher confessed all the circumstances.
Child abuse must have occurred during school hours. Other children are said to have seen some of the incidents.
Most of the children were eight or nine years old when the abuse occurred.
– The court finds reason to emphasize my client’s confessions more than the prosecution suggests, says Råen.
Furthermore, the court finds that the prosecution spent too much time on the case.
– It is also important for my client that the court proves that the prosecution used a restraining order and for too long did not allow him access to the documents.
He doesn’t have to work with children
In addition to the prison sentence, the man was sentenced to compensate the children he abused. His computer equipment was confiscated and he was banned from working or involving children or young people.
– He fully agrees with all of this, says Råen.
– Is there anything you are considering attractive?
– It is not relevant to challenge either the question of guilt, nor the compensation, confiscation or loss of rights. He said he will never apply for a job or commitment like that. And in relation to the sentence, we believe we have been heard with our arguments.
Compensation claims amounted to approximately NOK 560,000. Legal aid attorney Wallevik is satisfied with the court’s assessment of damages.
– It basically conforms to what was stated.
