– He was the closest friend I’ve had, says the friend. The two were in the same class at an art school in Kragerø, and started hanging out early in their spare time. On Thursday, he and the principal at the school testify in the trial after the murder. – I never saw a fiber of aggression from Ravn’s side, says the headmaster. Quickly found the tone Oliver Ravn Rønning (22) from Arendal was beaten to death by his spouse (19) in an apartment at Hovenga in Porsgrunn on 27 November last year. The defendant in the case has described the relationship as very turbulent with a lot of violence in both directions. Earlier in the trial, the 19-year-old claimed that it was she who was subjected to violence and who was controlled. However, the friend from school refers to his deceased friend as a very calm person. – He was intelligent, caring, funny and creative, says the study friend, when he is asked to describe the relationship he had with the deceased. – Do you remember anything negative? asks the prosecutor, police inspector Odd Skei Kostveit. – It must be that he was very overthinking, and dragged himself down a bit. But it was probably not that visible on the outside. Apart from this, he hardly made a sound in the classroom, he remembers. Oliver Ravn Rønning (22) was a student at the art school in Kragerø. Photo: NTBOliver Ravn Rønning (22) was a student at the art school in Kragerø. Photo: NTB The headmaster describes the deceased as a conscientious student. She is clearly marked by the memories of Rønning. – He was a committed student, both socially and in connection with teaching, she says. This is the case: Photo: Stig Bolme / news On the night of 27 November, Oliver Ravn Rønning (22) was beaten to death with a bat by his girlfriend in an apartment at Hovenga in Porsgrunn. Only a few days earlier the couple had rented and moved into the apartment. The murder victim was born a woman, but saw herself as a man. The accused spouse is legally a man but wishes to be referred to as a woman. A now 19-year-old woman has been charged with the murder. She was 18 years old when the incident took place. Rønning’s mother witnessed parts of her son’s murder as she waited outside the couple’s apartment. The two visited the emergency room in Porsgrunn the evening before the murder occurred, in connection with an episode of violence between the two. The defendant then called the police, but they did not intervene. The deceased’s survivors believe the murder could have been prevented if they had come to the scene. The special unit is now investigating whether the police could have acted differently. The trial started on Monday 17 June. The prosecution has announced that they will ask for a custodial sentence, while defender Heidi Ysen is asking for a full acquittal. You can read more about developments in the investigation here. Changed character The defendant is legally a man, but wishes to be referred to as a woman. The deceased was born female but saw himself as male. After Rønning met the defendant in the summer of 2023, it must have been a short time before he changed. Oliver Ravn Rønning went to art school in Kragerø. Study friends and staff describe him as a calm and kind person. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB Because even though the 22-year-old seemed happy to have met someone, his demeanor changed, the friend recalls. – He very quickly went on the defensive over messages, and began to reply less often. We used to write several times a day, but this decreased. Rønning is said to have also started behaving unusually and strangely the few times he was at school. – He looked like a nervous wreck, but denied that anything was wrong if asked. Was involved in many incidents The defendant pleaded not guilty when the indictment against her was read out from the prosecution earlier this week. She claims to have acted out of necessity, and that her life was in danger when the murder occurred. The 19-year-old is also accused of having been violent towards the 22-year-old on two occasions before the murder, but denies criminal guilt. Police at the scene after the murder in Porsgrunn. Photo: Richard Aune / news These events are also the subject of the diploma from the student friend and principal from the art school. The headmaster was contacted by the police after the first episode of violence. – I was very upset and surprised by this, but I arranged for Ravn to spend the night at school, she explains. The deceased is said to have later told about several violent episodes in conversation with the headmaster, which she became very involved in. She helped, among other things, by driving her pupil to a crisis center after the second episode of violence. Two days later, however, the 22-year-old left the crisis center and went back to the house where he and the 19-year-old lived. The headmaster met the deceased and his fellow student the following day. It was the last time she met Oliver Ravn Rønning. Published 20.06.2024, at 14.59 Updated 20.06.2024, at 15.06
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The best friend tells about Oliver Ravn Rønning (22) who was killed in Porsgrunn – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
