IN STORAGE: Viggo Kristiansen. Photo: Fridtjof Nygaard
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The Oslo Public Prosecutor’s Office has decided not to appear in the Supreme Court to clarify the question of whether Viggo Kristiansen can be released or not. This means that Kristiansen is released after 21 years in prison.
Just updated
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The prosecuting authority has requested that Viggo Kristiansen be released, public prosecutor Andreas Schei confirms to VG.
This means that Kristiansen will most likely be released shortly.
Schei points out that the actual criminal case against Viggo Kristiansen has not been dropped, and that this is still under investigation.
– We are still continuing the investigation, but the time course on this is longer than we have imagined. We cannot say that the risk assessment indicates that he is being imprisoned as the case now stands, the public prosecutor tells VG.
According to the plan, the issue of release was to be dealt with in oral proceedings in the Supreme Court on 17 June, but the prosecuting authority has now requested that this be dealt with in writing.
The Supreme Court will now probably deal with the case in writing with the consent of both parties, and issue a ruling on the issue of release.
Since both Kristiansen himself and the prosecution now believe he should be released, it will in all probability not be long before a ruling on release is handed down.
Will not extend custody
Viggo Kristiansen has served 21 years for rape and murder of Stine Sofie Sørstrønen (8) and Lena Sløgedal Paulsen (10) in Baneheia in May 2000. He has constantly claimed his innocence, and has requested that the case be reopened a number of times.
In February this year, the Readmission Commission decided that the criminal case against him should be reopened.
Schei says that the criminal case is extensive, and that they do not expect that they will be able to make a final decision on whether they will claim Kristiansen acquitted or whether a full trial will be held in early autumn 2021. He justifies the time aspect with the age and scope of the case.
– In consultation with the Attorney General, it has now been decided that the prosecuting authority will not bring the case before the court to extend the detention, the public prosecutor states.
– He is relieved
Arvid Sjødin, Kristiansen’s longtime defender, tells VG that he is not surprised by the claim from the public prosecutors.
– Viggo Kristiansen is very relieved, and you can understand that after being in prison for 21 years. This was not surprising to us. This is because the evidence is so weakened that it is not possible to build a new case on it.
Sjødin says that he expects Kristiansen to be released during this week.
– Then he will go home to Kristiansand, says Sjødin.
– Disappointing
– It is surprising and disappointing. We believe it would have been better if the Supreme Court had made a proper assessment of this, says development assistance lawyer Audun Beckstrøm to VG.
Lawyer Svein Holden represents Jan Helge Andersen.
– We take note of the decision. By the way, we have no comment, Holden says to VG.
– What do you think about Andersen’s safety now that Kristiansen is being released?
– I do not want to comment on that, Holden answers.
Bjørn André Gulstad, Viggo Kristiansen’s lawyer, confirms to VG that they are aware that the prosecution has changed its position on the release of his client.
– A letter has today been sent to the Supreme Court where the appeal is accepted and Viggo Kristiansen is alleged to have been released, Gulstad says to VG.
– A day of joy
– This is a day of joy for Viggo Kristiansen and his family, but also a day to reflect on the bottomless tragedy that this case is, Gulstad says.
The lawyer is not aware of when a release could take place.
– Now Viggo Kristiansen is released and we take one step at a time in the further process, says Gulstad.
The case is being updated
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