The police confirmed this in a press release on Friday morning. In mid-August, the police closed the investigation into the murders in Sørfold. They found no motive behind the tragedy. It was on New Year’s Day this year that three people were found dead at an address in the village of Straumen in Sørfold. First State Attorney Hilde Stoltenberg says it is not possible to find an answer. Photo: Ola Helness / news One of the three was charged with murdering the other two, his mother and stepfather. The 19-year-old was also charged with attempted murder of his underage half-sister. In mid-August, the case was sent from the Nordland police district to the state prosecutors in Nordland. The closure is in accordance with the proposal from the police and from the state attorney. The public prosecutors in Nordland forwarded the case to the attorney general for a decision. Both the state attorney and the attorney general have reviewed the case. The father of the 19-year-old, Torbjørn Clough Eilertsen, thinks it’s a shame that there are no answers as to why the murders happened. – I think it is good that the closure came as the investigation has not provided any answers. For us, it may be different what we mean, but I think it is a shame that there is no answer as to why this happened. – What is important for us now is to take care of each other and take care of the good memories we have. Focusing on processing the grief Anne Cathrine Præsteng is a legal aid lawyer for the two aggrieved girls who were present in the house when the incident happened. She also represents the deceased mother’s adult daughter, as well as the mother’s parents. Presteng says that the closure now means that the bereaved can focus more on their own grief processing. – The survivors whom I represent think that it is good that the criminal case has finally come to an end. This allows them to focus more on their own grieving process. It has been a difficult waiting phase, but now they can try to find their way back to a normal everyday life. – How are things going with the two girls who were in the house? – According to the circumstances, things are going well, also for the two minor children who were present in the home when the incident took place. They have recovered in their school situation and leisure activities, and they are in a normal way in their local environments. Even if the criminal case is now closed, there will still be issues for the bereaved and the aggrieved. – The criminal case has been dropped, but for those left behind, there will be a round to seek compensation under the Violence Compensation Act. As left behind in such a serious criminal case, it is natural, but it has not been decided whether they will do it yet. – Not possible to find an answer First Attorney General Hilde Stoltenberg states in the press release that it is not possible to find an answer as to why the murders took place. – Despite the fact that the police have “turned over all stones” in the investigation of the case, no findings have been made that can provide any answer as to why this happened, says Stoltenberg in the press release. Stoltenberg tells news that questioning the perpetrator in such cases will often be key evidence. – In this case, that has not been possible. The police have tried, without being able to ask him questions, to uncover a possible motive, without arriving at it. As of today, it is not known what caused this to happen. – It is often difficult to find unequivocal answers or final conclusions in a case where the suspect is dead, but all hypotheses that can provide answers as to why this happened have been investigated without any motive for the actions being found. Stoltenberg praises the police’s work in the case and describes the investigation as thorough. – What the police do when they are notified of very serious criminal cases is to comply with the routines and the methodology that must be used to ensure that there is a thorough and objective investigation. I commend that in this case. The police have concluded that the perpetrator acted alone. For the police and the prosecution, the case is closed. The criminal case has thus received its final decision, and now the work continues to process what has happened. – Our thoughts go primarily to those left behind, as well as to affected local communities, Stoltenberg says. Published 18.10.2024, at 09.12 Updated 18.10.2024, at 11.09
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