On Monday, just over a week ago, Runar Magnussen (55) was beaten outside a grocery store in Vikersund. This was filmed by witnesses, and the video spread online over the weekend. On Monday, an 18-year-old was arrested and charged with violence, and today he was produced for remand in Buskerud district court. The 18-year-old has admitted that he beat Magnussen, and has been remanded in custody for four weeks. Runar Magnussen was knocked down while walking his dog. Photo: PRIVATE – Has been going on for two years Defense attorney Tom Barth-Hofstad says that his client claims he was exposed to racism and hate speech before the battle. Magnussen refutes these accusations. – He was the one who used the racist word. This is typical. They have done this time and time again. They try to use racism as a reason to make noise, he says. The Vikersund man says he went up to the three young people and told them to calm down. He thought it felt intimidating to people coming out of the store. – This has nothing to do with racism. This is actually about the fact that they are a gang, that it is gang-related. This has been going on for at least two years. Will investigate the allegations – There were several defamatory and illegal things that were said, and the police are obliged to investigate. He does not need to report when the police have been made aware of it, then they are obliged to investigate it, says defender Barth-Hofstad. Defendant Tom Barth-Hofstad before today’s detention meeting. Photo: Hans-Kristian Rangnes / news Police prosecutor Eva Skau confirms that they will look into these charges. – That will naturally be part of what the investigation seeks to clarify. This is something that is mentioned in his statement, and something that the police are taking note of and will look into. The 18-year-old is known to the police, and is also charged with several other episodes of violence. – The accused has incurred several criminal offenses of a similar nature, and we want to imprison him on the basis of the risk of repetition. We want to stop the accused from committing offenses again, says Skau. Police prosecutor Eva Skau warned against the danger of repetition. Photo: Hans-Kristian Rangnes / news Accused apologizes The defense attorney says that his client is very sorry that he reacted with violence in the situation that arose with Magnussen. – He is painfully aware that he went too far, that it should not have happened. He regrets that. Magnussen says he is scared after the incident, although he survived the scare and has not suffered any permanent injuries. – Absolutely, because there are so many of them fighting in the streets, both here and in Drammen and Kongsberg. – What did you say to them? – I said that people are afraid. It should not be the case that people are afraid to go out of the shop, because they are standing there like a gang and a lynch mob. Published 21.08.2024, at 15.19
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Runar Magnussen was knocked down outside the store in Vikersund – reacts to allegations of racism – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
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