The case in summary: Rahavy Varatharajan, who was killed in Elverum, was not granted a violence alarm or a reverse violence alarm. Author and influencer June Holm is critical of the fact that she was not granted her wishes. Ane Fossum in the Crisis Center secretariat believes that the murder should have been prevented. The police announces a full review. A new change in the law will lead to increased use of reverse violence alarms. The government is criticized for not doing enough to protect women from violence. Rahavy Varatharajan (30), who was killed in Elverum on Monday, asked the police several times for a violence alarm and a reverse violence alarm, but never received it. The police believed that the risk of violence was too low. The man charged with the murder later died in hospital. He was placed under a restraining order against Varatharajan in April last year. The man broke the ban several times. – It is tragic that it has to go so terribly far, when he was reported a number of times and she asked for a violence alarm. I feel that the murder could have been avoided if she had been taken seriously and had her wishes granted, says June Holm. She is an author and founder of the We believe you foundation, and has experience of violence and abuse herself. – When women exposed to violence first ask for help, they must get the help they need. I hope that this is the last time we will hear that someone does not receive a violence alarm or vice versa, and that it ends in murder, says Holm. Breached the restraining order a number of times The police wanted to keep the man imprisoned, but the court said no. When the woman wanted a violence alarm, it was the police who said no. Here is the overview of all the times the woman asked for help before she was killed on Monday 1 January. The Oslo police impose a restraining order on a man until 27 October after a woman submitted a report of reckless behaviour. The two are in their 30s and should have “dated” a bit, but not been lovers. In 2017, the man was sentenced to 90 days in prison for harassment and threats against an ex-girlfriend. The first of several restraining orders in this case was imposed in 2009. The judgment from 2017 states that he sent sensitive photos to her friends and family and threatened her. Among other things, he wrote: “You will die for this”. The police give the man a summons after he has breached the restraining order three times. The man is arrested on 2 August. Then he has again broken the restraining order. Despite the summons in June, he has now sought out the car that was parked outside her home and attached tracking devices to it a total of four times. The Oslo district court allows the police to remand the man. The district court describes the violations of the restraining order and the attachment of tracking devices to the car as follows: “This must be frightening for the victim and the frequency of the violations makes the risk of repetition strong. The accused’s explanation that he did not know that attaching the tracking device to her car was a violation of the restraining order, the court does not believe is credible.” The district court also emphasizes that he has previously been sentenced for similar matters. The Oslo police want to keep the man in custody, but the Oslo district court releases the man. “The accused has explained that he has understood the seriousness. The court further points out that the actions in the charge are of a different nature than the previous cases the accused have adopted pre-trial motions for. The court has therefore come to the conclusion that the risk of repetition has weakened, and that there is no longer a strong degree of probability that the accused will again commit new criminal offenses of the nature for which he is now charged”, writes the district court. The police are appealing the district court’s decision, but Borgarting Court of Appeal rejects the appeal. The woman asks for a violence alarm, but she does not get it. The police write that she asked for this before the man was released. “Prior to this, the victim had requested a violence alarm. Based on an overall assessment, the request was refused, as the risk of violence was assessed as low at the time,” the police write in a press release. The woman also asked for a reverse violence alarm, i.e. a GPS that the man must wear. The court must decide on this, and the police did not get that far. “A reverse violence alarm is imposed by the court in connection with sentencing in a criminal case. This case was not fully investigated, among other things, a new questioning of the victim was planned for week two,” the police write. The restraining order imposed on 27 April is extended. The ban, which expires on 27 October, is now extended to 27 October 2024. The police’s restraining order is maintained by the Oslo district court. In December 2023, the man breaks the restraining order again. He has now broken the restraining order ten times since April. The woman in her 30s is visiting someone at the hospital in Elverum when she goes missing. She was going to get something from the car when she disappeared. Night until Tuesday 2 January, the woman is found shot and killed in a car outside the hospital. In the same car, the man in his 30s is found badly injured. He later dies of his injuries. Show more – Reported murder Ane Fossum is the general manager at the Crisis Center Secretariat, a umbrella organization for the crisis centers in Norway. Ane Fossum is the general manager of the Crisis Center Secretariat. Photo: Crisis Center Secretariat – This is a reported murder, which should have been prevented. Here, the police have obviously made a misjudgment in the risk assessment. It’s an incredible shame, she says. In a press release, the police announce a full review of the case. Both to look at what could have been done differently, but also for the police’s own learning in this type of case. – A review of the case will mean, among other things, that we see whether our internal guidelines have been properly followed up and that we also look at the actual investigation of the cases, the police write. The woman was found dead in a car in Elverum on Tuesday night. Photo: Petter Aamodt / PetterAamodt – Much safer for the victim of violence Both Fossum and Holm believe that a reverse violence alarm is an important protection measure that should be used more often. – With a normal violence alarm, a dangerous situation has already arisen when it is pressed. When using a reverse violence alarm, the police have more control. Responsibility is transferred to the perpetrator of violence. It is much safer for the victim of violence, says Holm. In 2020, OsloMet researcher Jane Vibeke Dullum evaluated the introduction of a reverse violence alarm. – It is rare that the perpetrator of violence has broken the zone, so in this sense, the reverse violence alarm is a protective measure for victims of violence that works. It has the effect it is meant to have, she says. This is what a reverse violence alarm looks like. Photo: The police’s IT service New change in the law will increase its use Only in 105 out of 232 cases has a reverse violence alarm been granted since the scheme was introduced in 2013. In all these cases, the prosecution has asked for a violence alarm, but has not been granted it by the court. As of today, the reverse violence alarm can only be used after a conviction for violence. It is the court that must decide whether a reverse violence alarm should be used in each individual case. In November last year, the Storting adopted changes to the legislation which will facilitate increased use of reverse violence alarms. Among other things, the prosecuting authority must be able to decide that a reverse violence alarm can be used without having to go through the court. A new change in the law will increase the use of reverse violence alarms. Photo: Morten Uglum / Aftenposten In addition, the threshold for using a reverse violence alarm must be lowered. The amendment to the law has not yet entered into force. – The bill was considered and passed just before Christmas by the Storting, and the changes will come into effect quickly, in line with usual practice, says State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Sigve Bolstad (Sp). Holm believes that the change in the law must come into force as soon as possible. – It is a shame that there are such long processes. Many incidents of violence and more murders can happen in the time it takes to introduce it, says Holm. Received strong criticism from the National Audit Office Holm does not think that the authorities are doing enough to protect women from violence and abuse. – One in five women state that they have been raped, and many experience violence. This is a very large societal problem that affects many, and more resources must be allocated to combat this, says Holm. The National Audit Office strongly criticized the Norwegian authorities’ efforts against violence in close relationships last summer. When asked how the government has followed up the criticism from the National Audit Office, Bolstad replies: State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness, Sigve Bolstad. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB scanpix – We must do better at preventing violence in close relationships, protecting victims, uncovering more cases and looking after those at risk with care. He adds that the government has put forward an escalation plan against violence and abuse, and that NOK 100 million has been set aside in this year’s state budget to follow up on these measures. Fossum is disappointed with the government. – It is another action plan in a series of action plans that unfortunately lack strong measures. The government has been clear that violence in close relationships is a priority, but I don’t think that is reflected in the actions. It takes too long, she says.
ttn-69
– Could have been avoided – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
