One late August night two years ago, the police happened to walk past a group of bewildered youths at St. Hanshaugen in Oslo. While the patrol was talking to them, several young people came out of a bunker in the area and asked the police to get an ambulance. They moved out with large forces, and immediately began to carry out unconscious youths from the bunker. Several of them seriously injured. The illegal party was initially called “Rave Cave” in social media. A senior doctor at Oslo University Hospital said afterwards that the party could have become Norway’s worst accident in peacetime. Here the partygoers entered. Inside the mountain hall there was loud music and a light show. The power came from diesel generators. Coal from the generators poisoned partygoers. A total of 28 people were poisoned and ended up in hospital. Two of the party participants were assessed as critically poisoned. Several were diagnosed with brain damage. On Tuesday morning, two men in their 20s took the dock in the Oslo District Court. They must have had a central role in the planning and implementation of the rave party. Partially plead guilty On the first day of the trial, the two defendants pleaded guilty to two of the charges. They partially pleaded guilty to breaching the Fire and Explosion Protection Act, which says something about doing what you can to prevent a fire from starting. They pleaded guilty to entering an illegal place. Both deny criminal guilt and believe that they cannot be punished for causing a public danger to life and health. The public prosecutor’s office describes violations of the Fire and Explosion Act as serious. Broke in The only entrance and exit to the party was about one by one meter. According to witnesses and party participants, as many as 200 people may have visited the bunker during the night. The unit that operated the light and sound system was placed in a room at the very bottom of the bunker, which was padded again with garbage bags and duct tape. The organizers believed that there had been a ventilation system in the bunker. But when news’s reporter visited the cave, there was only a small hole at the top above the door to the room where the units were, which could let in air. This room was broken open, and it was from here that the deadly gas spread. One of the party participants told news afterwards that when she entered the room with the units, she immediately felt dizzy. On the floor lay three unconscious boys. – It made a strong impression to drag the lifeless boys over the hill when you yourself are about to pass out, she said when she herself was in hospital after the party. The fire service said afterwards that a lethal dose of carbon monoxide was measured several times in the worst places in the bunker. Serious case – My client does not plead guilty to poisoning, said one of the defendants’ lawyers, Ida Andenæs, to news ahead of the trial. Lawyer Marit Lomundahl Sæther defends the other defendant. State Attorney Daniel Sollie is leading the case for the prosecution. Daniel Sollie says the party could potentially have been even more dangerous. Photo: Gøril Furu / news He believes the case is serious. – They are accused of endangering the lives and health of over a hundred people. In addition to the fact that two people suffered significant damage to their bodies and health, he says. Initially, five people were charged. Three of the charges were dropped. Sollie believes the two defendants played a central role in the planning and implementation of the bunker party. – The decisive factor is the role they have had, for example, in handling the aggregate, rigging the party and choosing the venue. It is a concrete assessment of the actions they have carried out in connection with the party, says Sollie. They face up to six years in prison. Still struggling with memory Two months after the cave party, news told about Magnus (22). He was one of two who were critically poisoned at the bunker party. He and his mother will both testify on Tuesday, December 6. So must the other person who was seriously injured. Magnus, who is now 24, still struggles with his memory. When he was dragged out of the cave unconscious, he injured his back. This has gotten worse. – I forget things all the time. When I go out the door to go to the store, I forget what I’m going to buy, and why I even went out in the first place, he says. The memory loss affects everyday life with school and work. – I was lucky in an accident. I could be completely out of it for the rest of my life. But I’m afraid. Afraid that I will get worse, he says. The 28 who were admitted with carbon monoxide poisoning have been followed up by researchers at Oslo University Hospital. – Seemed like a safe place There was still a corona pandemic when the party was held, and the nightlife in Oslo was closed at midnight. Ahead of the party, the party participants were told on Facebook to arrive between 11.00pm and 0.30am to “limit the chance of Oslo’s party brake department showing up”. news has previously spoken to one of those who helped set up the party. He told news that he did not regret the event itself, but that they could have done some things differently. – We could have had someone to look after the door. And we could have had a better place. I saw the floor plans now in retrospect, the cave itself seemed like a safe place. Many witnesses More than two weeks have been set aside for the trial. On Tuesday, the court will inspect the cave. A party-goer who himself was poisoned by coal thought several of the unconscious people were dead. Now the person tells about the dramatic minutes on the night of Sunday. The following day, the two defendants will give their statement. Magnus hopes the trial will make the defendants take more responsibility for what happened, than he believes they have done so far. In addition, he hopes to receive compensation. – But six years in prison is too much. The guys were just trying to create a light in a rather dark time, he says. – Did you have a responsibility yourself? – There were coronary restrictions, so it was stupid to go there. But I was a young boy, and I couldn’t see the consequences of that then, he says.
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Today starts the trial after the bunker party at St. Hanshaugen – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
