On Monday, the five accused men in their 20s appeared in Hordaland district court. All five pleaded not guilty when the indictment was read out. Three of the men are accused of aggravated rape of a woman. According to the indictment, the men must have tied the woman up and then had sexual intercourse with her. The rape is said to have taken place at a party in Bergen in January 2021. One of the three men is also charged with sexual intercourse with an underage girl together with two other men. The girl was under 16 when the sexual intercourse took place in Bergen in January 2020. The defendants know each other and belong to the same environment. During the first day of the trial, the names of the defendants were spread and broadcast directly on social media. These are the defendants Man (23) indicted both for aggravated rape in January 2021 together with two others, and for sexual intercourse with an underage girl in 2020. Man (24) indicted for aggravated rape in January 2021 along with two others. Man (26) charged with aggravated rape in January 2021 together with two others. Man (24) indicted for sexual intercourse with a minor girl in January 2020. Man (25) indicted both for sexual intercourse with a minor girl in January 2020 and for rape in the summer of 2018. – Hobby to have sex with several Prosecutor Benedicte Hordnes mentioned in its introduction that the police at one point investigated five cases. The cases involved the five defendants and four offended girls. – Then you saw a group of boys with one thing in common: they were interested in expensive cars and had sex with several people as a hobby. So anything from two to four boys on one girl, explained Hordnes. Prosecutor Benedicte Hordnes painted a serious picture of the mijøet Photo: Adrian Nyhammer Olsen / news Three of the cases were later dismissed on the basis of the evidence. – It is allowed to have sex with several people. That does not make it a criminal offence, replied lawyer John Christian Elden. Elden defends the man who is charged with both of the aforementioned incidents. He also emphasized that the trial is only about the charges. Not about the dropped cases. Lawyer John Christian Elden defends one of the accused men. Photo: Marthe Synnøve Johannessen / news Struggling to explain herself in court The offended woman was very distressed when she had to explain herself about the gang rape. She started by telling about the party in 2021, and the hours before the rape took place. – It’s the last time I can remember being really happy. When questioned by the prosecutor, the woman replied that she was a little in love with one of the defendants. This was why she attended the party. This man is also charged with sexual intercourse with a minor. On the evening in question in 2021, he is said to have asked the woman if she would like to have a threesome. – I clearly said no to that. I figured that was respected. Then he answered; stop being such a jerk. The woman explained that she got quite drunk throughout the evening. Offended woman: – Better to die At one point she and the accused man are said to have entered a room together to have sex. – The next thing I remember is that there are three boys there. Everything is very overwhelming. It was just like they knew what was going to happen, while I had no idea. The woman cried as she told how she was tied up and raped. – I thought it was better to die than to experience what I experienced. The woman went to the rape center the next day. A few days later, she reported the rape. Eight days have been set aside for the case in Hordaland district court. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news Reported old rape Elden questioned whether the woman gave signals during the rape. He emphasized that she explained in questioning that the reason why the rape stopped could be that she expressed that she did not want it. After the indictment against the five men was discussed in the media, a new woman reported another of the men for a rape that allegedly took place in the summer of 2018. This man is also charged with sexual intercourse with the underage girl. Man published video from court on social media During the trial, a man was caught filming parts of the trial. The man is said to have filmed and shared a video of the offended woman’s explanation on Instagram. He is also said to have shared a video showing the five accused men, and shared their names. – We got hold of him and took him out of the courtroom with clear instructions to delete the recordings. Then he was turned away from the district court, says head of security at Hordaland district court, Per Erik Kolstad. Kolstad says the court’s administrator had given clear notice that audio and video recordings are not permitted. He believes it is unusual for it to be filmed in this way. The man does not get the opportunity to return to the district court as long as the trial lasts. Eight days have been set aside for the trial in Hordaland district court.
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Five men in their 20s plead not guilty in a serious rape case in Bergen – news Vestland
