It is a 21-year-old British man who is charged with the murder of Kjetil André Østhus. He pleaded not guilty when the trial against him started in Haugaland and Sunnhordland District Court today. But before the defendant started his explanation, Gunvald Østhus got the floor. He is the father of Kjetil André. Østhus spent around 15 minutes putting into words how he and his family have been in the past twelve months. – The shock, despair and anger at having to celebrate birthdays, Christmas and New Year without Kjetil André is indescribable. How could this happen, Østhus asked. Gunvald Østhus told the court about a cruel year after his son was killed. Photo: Gisle Jørgensen / news He talked about his son’s great passion for cooking and how he, as a chef, had worked hard to achieve the position he had. Michelin restaurants in Paris and New York were some of the places where Kjetil André had found work. – It is difficult to put words to the loss. The jewel we have lost is impossible to replace, said Østhus. On New Year’s Eve last year, the parents drove their son to Haugesund, where Kjetil André was supposed to celebrate New Year’s Eve with good friends. An hour and a half after midnight, the fatal thing happened, when the group of friends were going to set off the last fireworks. Heartbreaking emergency calls At 01:27 on 1 January, AMK in Haugesund received the first emergency call from one of Kjetil André’s friends. At about the same time, the police received two similar calls. All three conversations were played in court today. Marked by shock and disbelief, the friends told that Kjetil André had been stabbed in the chest, that there was blood everywhere and that the perpetrator had disappeared into a nearby apartment. At the same time, one of the comrades carried out life-saving first aid. After about four minutes, the first ambulance arrived at the scene. Østhus was taken to hospital, but the knife had gone through the heart and his life could not be saved. The police immediately began an investigation at the scene, and after a short time the English 21-year-old, together with a friend, was arrested on the way out of the apartment. Several of the police officers who arrived at the scene knew Kjetil André well. His brother works in the police. Therefore, the further investigation was led and carried out from Stavanger. DNA evidence The police have secured a number of DNA evidences which they believe link the accused to the murder. In the apartment where the defendant spent the night, two large kitchen knives were found, with a blade of 23 centimetres. DNA from both the defendant and Østhus was found on one of the knives. The same applies to a glove and a sweater that were found in the apartment. State prosecutor Birgitte Budal Løvlund said in court today that the police have a number of DNA evidence Photo: Gisle Jørgensen / news One of the main questions the court must decide on in the next two days is whether the defendant was criminally sane at the time of the crime. The defendant has had conversations with both psychiatrist Johannes Skaar and psychologist Jens Petter Gisselgård after the arrest. Their conclusion is that the defendant has several diagnoses, including delusional disorder (paranoid psychosis). The experts are unsure whether the defendant had this disorder during the murder or whether it arose afterwards. Prosecutor Birgitte Budal Løvlund has therefore notified that a claim may be made for compulsory mental health care. – Only the king and Kjetil André When the family of Østhus were going home from Haugesund hospital to Karmøy after the funeral, the police had stopped the traffic at every roundabout. The police officers stood there and greeted their colleague and the family who had lost their brother, son, uncle and grandson. – The traffic stopped completely for us. Only the king and Kjetil André receive such attention, says Gunvald Østhus. In court today, Østhus wanted to thank both the police, the ambulance service, AMK and Haugesund Hospital for their support and for trying to save their son’s life. – Everyone did a fantastic job, but his life could not be saved, said Østhus.
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– Difficult to put words to the loss – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
