Lawyer René Ibsen and Tor Kjærvik were close colleagues and private friends. Ibsen is clearly marked by having lost a good friend. A man René Ibsen only has good and dear memories of.
– Tor was very fond of his son, and did what he could to help him, Ibsen says thoughtfully.
The two were close friends and colleagues for almost 25 years.
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“The one I liked best”
– I remember I invited Tor in my 30th birthday. Then I thought, he was 20 years older than me, but we were friends and friends. Tor was completely unique, says René Ibsen.
– Thor was completed properly. He was the person in the world I liked best, says René Ibsen.
The two became known while Kjærvik was a defender of the much-publicized Landås case in Bergen in the nineties. Where an auxiliary nurse was charged with a series of murders of elderly women and men at Landås Menighets Eldresenter.
Together with lawyer Morten Kjensli, Kjærvik represented the auxiliary nurse. The case against her was dropped in 1995.
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Then Ibsen studied law in Bergen.
– We got to know each other while I was studying. I got to know Tor through Johnny Veum who started working for Tor already as a student, and I was so lucky that I had become friends with Johnny in my studies.
– The unique thing about Tor was that he talked to everyone, and was inclusive. He did not discriminate between people, says Ibsen.
“Learn from the best”
– It was no coincidence that I started working for Tor, when I left as an assistant judge in Oslo District Court. Thor was the best, and I want to learn from the best, says René Ibsen.
The motif may be over 20 years old
The two worked together for five years, before René Ibsen went on.
– Thor was special. I was looking forward to meeting him. It was like I was looking forward to every case you were together in.
After the tragic shots at Røa on Monday night, many lawyer colleagues of Tor Kjærvik have appeared in the media and told about Tor Kjærvik.
– It has been said by several that Tor was the best criminal lawyer in his generation, I can sign that.
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“Be yourself”
– No matter who the client was, whether the case was big and was mentioned in the media, or it was a case that did not make the big headlines, Tor was always prepared. No case was big or too small, for Tor, says René Ibsen.
The lawyer colleague tells of a socially engaged defender, who always tried to do the best for the client.
– Tor was interested and loved people. He was right through himself. Everyone liked Tor, says Ibsen.
Tor Kjærvik was more private than many of his lawyer colleagues. But to René Ibsen he was more open.
Mother of the murder suspect: – Feared this
– As friends usually do, we also talked about our families. Thor was very interested in and loved his son. What has happened is completely incomprehensible.
“Did not talk about others”
Among lawyers – and other professions such as journalists and for that matter actors – it is not uncommon for colleagues to talk less nicely.
– That’s not how Tor was. In all the years I knew him, he did not say a bad word about any colleagues. He was in his own way low-key and warm.
– Tor was a private man, who did not need to talk about himself. We were so close that it was also natural to talk about private things, says Ibsen.
Before Tor Kjærvik wore the defender’s coat, he was in the police for a few years. First as a police assistant and police adjutant at Romerike. He was also for a period acting police chief in Sør-Varanger, before in 1982 he took over as defender.
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– Tor was very good as a criminal lawyer. He was always familiar with the case, and knew the facts of the case. It was not coincidence that characterized Tor’s legal work.
– I think it is true as others have said, Tor was probably the best defense lawyer in his generation, says Ibsen.
Sportsman
In recent years, Tor Kjærvik has struggled with health. Part of the reason was his sports career. For several years, Kjærvik was one of the better on the handball team Arild – one of the very best handball teams in Norway from the 60s and 70s – from Oslo.
– He also played on the youth national team, Ibsen says.
And it was probably the concrete surfaces in the old handball halls that made Tor Kjærvik struggle with his legs and hips.
– In recent years, Tor struggled with kidney failure. He was completely open about it, and looked forward to having a new kidney transplanted.
“Never lost my temper”
In addition to being passionate about sports, Tor Kjærvik was interested in society.
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– I never perceived him as a party politician, but he was committed and concerned with society and development. He cared about the people, says Ibsen.
When René Ibsen is asked what really made Tor Kjærvik so special and well-liked, he thinks carefully about. before answering:
– Tor was unique, and had the wonderful quality that no matter what happened, he never lost his temper, he was extremely calm. Thor was always himself.
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