– It will be a matter of many millions, says associate attorney Johan Vanberg Jensen. He represents the 5-year-old, who, together with two friends, was blamed for the death of five-year-old Silje Marie Redergård in 1994. She was found partially undressed and abused in the snow on a toboggan run at Tiller in Trondheim. The following day, the police concluded that it was the three boys aged 4, 5 and 6 who were behind it. It had major consequences for the boys, even though they were too young to be convicted. Among other things, Trondheim municipality took over the care of the 5-year-old, and has received criticism for the way he was treated. A committee that looked into the matter concluded earlier this year that the treatment was objectionable and may have been harmful. – It’s probably so obvious, and it appears directly from the Brennpunkt documentary where individuals, in open camera, admit to having exposed my client to methods that were illegal then, and which of course are illegal now, says Jensen. In retrospect, he has, among other things, developed serious drug problems, and did not become drug-free until he was declared innocent by the public prosecutor in 2023. It became clear when the case was investigated again, and the police were unable to prove that it was the three boys who were behind it. Thus, they must be considered innocent. – Can be a long process – The compensation goes to what is typically called a lost childhood. Central to that is that the municipality uncritically based the police’s conclusion, says Jensen. – Then it must be said that the police completed the investigation of the case after around one day – before the forensic investigations were finished. It is of course subject to any criticism. Associate attorney Johan Vanberg Jensen at the law firm Klomsæt og Co. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news On Tuesday, he and the 5-year-old had a meeting with the municipality where they were informed about the case. – We actually got very little out of it, but it is important for us to show that we are on the ball and will bring forward a compensation lawsuit, says Jensen. He also inquired about the possibility of receiving compensation in advance. – They opposed that, so I imagine that it could be a long process before he gets paid anything. Acting municipal director for social services in Trondheim municipality, Marianne Hyldmo, confirms that they have had a meeting with the 5-year-old. – We cannot comment on the matter other than that we await compensation claims against the municipality. This compensation claim will be processed in line with our routines as soon as we receive this claim, she says. – Reprehensible and possibly harmful Both the 5- and 6-year-old were placed in foster care after the death. The committee that went through the case believes that the municipality has exposed the 5-year-old to things that could have harmed him. Among other things, he must have received “experiential learning” to develop impulse control and better empathize with other people’s feelings and experiences. – In the committee’s view, this method must be characterized as testing and experimental. Use of the method must be considered objectionable and possibly harmful, writes the committee. An example of such a situation is once the five-year-old had hit others in the nursery. He was then taken into a room where an adult was “physically and verbally harsh” towards him. Threats were also allegedly made against him to try and get him to understand how other children experienced the five-year-old’s behaviour. Professor of psychology, Tine Jensen, has read the reports, and concluded that the treatment was violence against children and abuse of the boy. In addition, he was taken six times to the toboggan run where Silje was found dead and to her grave. The committee chose not to criticize this, because the five-year-old must have taken the initiative to do so himself. The five-year-old boy was named as one of those responsible for Silje Marie Redergård’s death in 1994. This is an illustration. Illustration: Svend Even Hærra / news Wants an apology When the report was presented to Trondheim municipality, director of upbringing and education, Lasse Arntsen, apologized to the 5-year-old. – We find reason to regret a relationship, and that is the approach that was used in the nursery towards the one boy. One of four approaches we see is not scientifically justified enough, he told news. The 5-year-old and his lawyers do not think that is sufficient. – The public authorities have received an apology, but I personally do not feel that I have received one, says the 5-year-old. Solicitor Jensen agrees with that. – In addition to getting compensation and compensation, getting a sincere apology has its own value. So far that has not happened, so we are waiting for that. Published 18.06.2024, at 13.50 Updated 18.06.2024, at 14.01
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