Jan Helge Andersen gets a new trial – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio

* Stine Sofie Sørstrønen (8) and Lena Sløgedal Paulsen (10) were raped and killed in Baneheia in Kristiansand on 19 May 2000. They were found two days later. * Viggo Kristiansen and Jan Helge Andersen were arrested in September of the same year, prosecuted and sentenced in the Agder Court of Appeal in 2002 to 21 years’ detention and 19 years’ imprisonment respectively for the rape and murder of the two girls. * Jan Helge Andersen was convicted of rape and murder at Sørstrønen and complicity in the rape of Paulsen. He singled out Viggo Kristiansen as the main man behind the murders. * Andersen thought the penalty discount he received for having solved the case against Viggo Kristiansen was too small, but the appeal was rejected. Andersen was released on parole in 2016 after serving 16 years in prison. * Kristiansen has always claimed that he is innocent. After four previous attempts, he had his criminal case reopened in 2021. On 1 June of the same year, as a result of a decision by the Supreme Court’s appeals committee, he was released after almost 21 years in prison. * In connection with the new investigation into the case, it became known in November 2021 that Andersen’s DNA was detected on both victims, including Lena Sløgedal Paulsen. This is contrary to his previous explanation and to the basis on which he was convicted at the time. * On 19 July 2022, it became known that Andersen has been charged with the murder of Lena Sløgedal Paulsen, for which he was originally acquitted. * On 13 December 2022, Viggo Kristiansen was cleared by the Borgarting Court of Appeal delivering an acquittal in line with the prosecutor’s claim. * On 24 March 2023, the Attorney General asked for the case against Andersen to be reopened. * The re-admission commission decided on 15 June 2023 to reopen the Kristiansand district court’s judgment from 2001 on the acquittal of Jan Helge Andersen for murder or complicity in the murder of Lena Sløgedal Paulsen. * On Friday 12 January 2024, the Attorney General ordered charges against Jan Helge Andersen for the murder of Lena Sløgedal Paulsen. * The case started in Sør-Rogaland district court in Sandnes on Monday 16 April 2024, with Andersen’s statement and inspection of the crime scene the same week. Eight weeks were set aside for the case. * On Tuesday 2 July 2024, Jan Helge Andersen was also sentenced for the murder of Lena Sløgedal Paulsen (10). The court considers it proven that Andersen acted alone. He is sentenced to prison for two years.



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