The case has shocked the municipality in Hordaland where the families lived. Child protection asked to be investigated after everything that has come to light. – It is an extremely rough and all-encompassing regime that I have had to describe here, said prosecutor Ellen Cathrine Greve when she started her proceedings in Hordaland district court. A pair of parents and their eldest son are accused of assaulting the two youngest children in the family, a boy and a girl. Their neighbour, a man in his 30s, is also accused of assaulting the girl. In addition, he is accused of assaulting his own son. All the defendants pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Ellen Cathrine Greve is asking for the following sentences for the defendants: The father: 21 years in prison Mother: 18 years in prison The older brother: 10 years in prison The neighbor: 12 years in prison – All the cases have a sentence of 21 years, in other words the strictest is promised punishment, as for murder, said the prosecutor. Prosecutor Ellen Cathrine Greve (left) and assistant lawyer Beate Hamre. Photo: Maria Gunnarsdotter Svedal / news Family hierarchy with threats The prosecutor portrays a hierarchy in the family. She points out that the children have explained that threats have been used, that they have had to conform and be obedient, and that some violence has also been carried out in the home, in addition to the abuse. Among other things, the weasel sister has explained that if she said no to something, there were consequences, the weasel brother has told about the use of military ranks such as commander, general, captain and soldier in the home and about secret “signs” that the family allegedly used. The prosecutor indicated that it had emerged that the children had a “significant fear” of being shut out of the family community. The children themselves have called it being ignored. The court has seen the arranged interviews that have been done with the children. There they have explained what it has been like in their home. Photo: Ane Hem / TV 2 The elder brother was also part of the hierarchy created by the parents, according to the prosecution. In the explanations of the weasel brother and the weasel sisters, it appears that the older brother only committed abuse when one or both parents were present. – Both children describe their brother as a child. I think that points back to the hierarchy and regime created in the family, said Greve. The defendants have denied that there has been use of internal justice and force in the family. Start with reports of concern In 2020, several reports of concern about the neighbor came to the child welfare services. A whistleblower said that the neighbour’s son had told her children that “when mum is late for work, I have to undress dad”. In addition, the informant had several times observed the neighbor with the girl next door in a pool and reacted to how the man treated the girl. Another whistleblower had observed the man kissing and hugging the girl on a playground. The informant pointed out that if it wasn’t a man and a small child she saw, she would have said they were in love. – What they have done is extremely important, and they should be recognized for that, Greve said of the whistleblowers. They also testified in court. – What I have heard from their explanations is that it has not been easy to give notice. Perhaps it is extra difficult in a small local community. It was these reports that the police were with when the case started. During the investigation of the neighbour, the police became interested in the parents in his neighbourhood. The man in his 50s was arrested in the summer of 2021, the woman in her 40s in September of the same year. The neighbour, mother and father were charged in December 2022. In February 2023, their eldest son was involved. He was taken into custody and charged in the same case. For three months, he has sat together with his parents and his neighbor on the prosecution bench in Hordaland district court. These are the four defendants. This is how the case unfolded In autumn 2020, the “neighbour”, a man in his 30s, was arrested. Child protection had then received three reports of concern. Two of them expressed concern about the relationship between the neighbor and the daughter in the family. They were observed on a playground and in a pool, and the reporter said that it was unpleasant to see the relationship the man had with the girl. Another report of concern concerned claims the children had brought with other children. Among other things, one of the children is said to have said “When mum is late for work, I have to undress dad”. During the investigation of the neighbour, the police became interested in the parents in his neighbourhood. The man in his 50s was arrested in the summer of 2021, the woman in her 40s in September of the same year. The neighbour, mother and father were charged in December 2022. Later, their eldest son, the “big brother”, was also involved. In February this year, he was taken into custody and charged in the same case. All four are charged with aggravated rape of children under the age of 14. It carries a penalty of 21 years in prison. In the indictment, it appears that the public prosecutor will consider asking for detention when it concerns the father in the family. On 28 August 2023, the case started in Hordaland district court. According to the plan, she will last for ten weeks. Very extensive case All four are charged with aggravated rape of children under 14 years of age. It carries a penalty of 21 years in prison. In the indictment, it appears that the public prosecutor would consider asking for detention when it concerns the father in the family. On 28 August 2023, the case started in Hordaland district court. According to the plan, she was supposed to last ten weeks, but it turned out not to be enough. Among other things, the court has listened to over 50 hours of arranged child hearings and around twenty hours of recordings of interactions between the children. In addition, over a hundred people have testified in the trial. In court, the defenders have pointed out that they believe there is a risk that the children have been influenced before and during the interview, so that they have given incorrect explanations. – I think this is of course completely wrong, said Greve during his procedure. She also referred to the Alvdal case when she presented what the prosecution believes is the correct sentencing in the case. Over a hundred people have testified in the trial. Photo: Maria Gunnarsdotter Svedal
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The prosecutor believes this is the right punishment for mother, father, older brother and neighbor – news Vestland
