None of Birgitte Tengs’ parents were present when the verdict was read out today. – The parents mostly hope that they get an explanation of what happened and why. They fear that they won’t get that, says assistant lawyer John Christian Elden after the verdict against Johny Vassbakk was a fact. “The short version is that I’m having a really good time,” said the father of Birgitte Tengs when he took the witness stand in the courtroom in Haugaland and Sunnhordland district court in November. Then the trial began against the man who was charged with the murder of his daughter in 1995. Now the verdict has come. 17 years in prison and NOK 600,000 in compensation to each of Birgitte Tengs’ parents. – They fear that this judgment is not the final word in the case, in that it will not become legally binding, says Elden. The defenders of Vassbakk have announced that the verdict will be appealed. John Christian Elden (on the right) and Erik Lea (with their backs to them) have been solicitors for Karin and Torger Tengs for a number of years. Photo: Marthe Synnøve Johannessen / news Despondent and hopeless, Torger and Karin Tengs did not wish to comment on the case after the trial was finished at the end of December and until the verdict was handed down today. Aid lawyers Erik Lea and John Christian Elden have been their spokespersons. During the court case, the latter questioned whether the DNA evidence against Vassbakk was strong enough. The parents and the legal aid lawyers were present during large parts of the trial against Vassbakk, which lasted well over two months. Lea also said during the trial that the last 27 years have been characterized by despair and a sense of hopelessness for the parents. Erik Lea in front of Karin and Torger Tengs. Far to the right is the second assistant attorney, John Christian Elden. Photo: Marthe Synnøve Johannessen / news Long thought it was the cousin Birgitte Tengs’ parents had for all these years thought it was the cousin who was the killer. That is why they reacted with shock in the time after the arrest of Vassbakk in 2021. The cousin was completely cleared of the murder just before the trial began. Right crime commentator Olav Rønneberg tells about when Johny Vassbakk fell over in court. In December, Karin Tengs saw her nephew for the first time since 1998. The cousin tried to make contact after his testimony in court, but the aunt was dismissive. While Torger Tengs has been more open to the possibility that there could be another killer, Karin Tengs held on to her conviction about her cousin’s guilt for longer. Torger Tengs also had some words for Vassbakk when he sat in court, and he encouraged the 52-year-old to confess – if he was guilty: – Try to think about what he had spared us and himself for, all the murky things and things that lie and who are sopt together against him. As we have to sit here and receive from journalists and everyone, as he and we have to sit here and listen to, then he can just travel somewhere and zone and get a daily don’t instead, that would be wonderful, said Torger Closed in court three months ago. Now the man has been sentenced, but it is expected that the case will be appealed. Appeal processing is tentatively scheduled in the Gulating Court of Appeal later this year. Elden announced before the verdict was read out today that the parents of Birgitte Tengs still have opposing views on what happened on the fatal night in May 1995 and who is the killer. It was not certain that a judgment would change this view. – They have diametrically opposed views, but they will not let it come between them. They are primarily hoping for some answers, Elden said before the verdict. Birgitte Tengs was found murdered on 6 May 1995. A 52-year-old man from Karmøy is now charged in the Tengs case, and the trial begins on Monday 7 November 2022.
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– Parents are primarily hoping for answers – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
