– It is quite terrible that so many people have to experience what we experienced. And then there is an even greater reason to try to find out who this is, says Karoline Granum. In August, news wrote about the gay couple Karoline and Tina Granum from Nord-Aurdal in Valdres, who received a letter with frightening content in their mailbox. The letter they received was handwritten, and from an anonymous sender. Anne Mette Sandberg-Enger from Nord-Aurdal has also received hate mail. This is the letter she received. It was in her mailbox last March. – Getting a letter like that is terribly unpleasant. Especially at the start when you don’t understand what it entails and whether there is any imminent threat, says Karoline. May have lasted for 20 years Several residents of Valdres have reported anonymous and harassing letters. Most women have received them. But men are also among the offended. Just before Christmas, the police were made aware of yet another so-called hate letter. That letter must be from 2001. Altogether, there are now 15 hate letters from a period of over 20 years. – Those who have received the letters are mainly from Nord-Aurdal municipality in Valdres, says police attorney Trine Hanssen. ONE PERSON: Police prosecutor Trine Hanssen in the Innlandet police district is responsible for prosecuting the case. She says they are working on the assumption that there is one person behind all the letters. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news The police believe that one and the same person is probably behind it. They will not speculate whether it is a man or a woman. Currently, there are no suspects in the case. – There must be a person who has some connection to Valdres and also some knowledge of these people who have received the letters, says the police attorney. Hanssen states that, among other things, they map what the common features are for those who have received the letters. She says on a general basis that in such cases the police can examine for DNA, fingerprints and carry out handwriting analysis. Praise from the Prime Minister The hate letter case from Valdres was mentioned by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in his New Year’s speech. He praised the gay couple who were hit. – Next year, we will do like Karoline and Tina. Don’t be afraid, don’t pull away, don’t duck, said Støre. Although the police have started an investigation, they still have limited resources. – It is not an issue that is at the top of the priority list here with us. But we regularly work on the case, says police attorney Trine Hanssen. How much resources and people do you use? – We have one investigator who works on the case in between other cases. In addition, the person in question receives assistance from another investigator from time to time, she says. Skeive’s rights Karoline and Tina Granum say they understand that the police must prioritize their tasks and that they are satisfied that the cases are being investigated. – We think it is appropriate that such matters are taken seriously. Not just our letter, but generally other similar incidents, says Karoline. After the initial shock subsided after they had received the letter last summer, the married couple have been out in public several times to talk about queer rights. – In a way, this has also influenced us in a positive direction as well. Because we have had a springboard into the media. We have actually had the opportunity to be able to go out with our case and talk about queer rights, says Tina.
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