– It was extremely difficult for the girls to explain themselves. It was also difficult for them to see all the evidence and the videos again, says Nicole. She is the mother of three teenage girls aged 16, 17 and 19, who are in Agder district court this week. The mother and sisters have sued Lillesand municipality for not having provided the girls with a safe school environment. On Monday, the teenage girls told about episodes of bullying and racism. All three explained themselves from an adjacent room via video link. Told that she was called fucking black The sisters told how they experienced moving from Bergen to Lillesand in 2019. The episodes are said to have largely taken place at Lillesand secondary school and in social media. The elder said that fellow pupils called her a fucking nigger and a monkey. She also said that she was sent Snapchat messages saying that her head could be used as a dokost. – They asked why I moved here and said “Why didn’t you just stay in Bergen? You are the only black person here and we don’t have black people here in Lillesand,” explained the 19-year-old. Her little sisters described how they have both been beaten up by fellow students, one of them at school in August 2021. – Over 30 people stood there and the teachers did nothing. I also told the teachers that I had been sent death threats on Snapchat, but they didn’t believe it, the 17-year-old said. The girls’ older sister Presilya acts as an extra mum and relieves mum Nicole. The latter has stopped studying because she spends all her time looking after her daughters. Photo: Heidi Ditlefsen / news Don’t sleep at night Lillesand municipality is represented by lawyer Gro Hamre. She does not want to comment on the matter. Anette Sylta Sandberg, an adviser growing up in Lillesand municipality, who stood as the municipality’s representative, does not want that either. – I will not make any comments as long as the trial is ongoing, says Sandberg to news. Three months ago, the family moved from Lillesand to Arendal. It was too tough for the girls to live there, according to the mother. Only one of them occasionally goes to school. The youngest of the girls has not been to school for two years. She is homeschooled one day a week. In the district court, the girls told that their everyday life is characterized by flashbacks about the bullying, fear of being alone and hopelessness about the future. The 16-year-old said that she can neither eat nor sleep. – It’s not going well today. I have a fear inside me all the time, she said. Co-judge and psychiatrist Gunnar Johannessen wondered what dreams the girls have for the future. – I have no dreams. Before, I wanted to become a lawyer or study political science. Now I have lost hope, said the 17-year-old. Mom Nicole also testified in court. She said that it hurts as a mother to see how hard it is for her daughters. – I don’t know if she (the 16-year-old) will get well again. As a mother, it hurts me a lot, she said. The mother also said that the girls were active, played football and had many friends before they came to Lillesand. One of them was also student council leader. All three sisters were pupils at Lillesand secondary school. Photo: Hans Erik Weiby / news Severe depression and PTSD Experts have assessed that the oldest of the sisters has a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a degree of disability of 34 per cent. The two youngest sisters both have severe depression and a degree of disability of 54 per cent, according to experts. The youngest possibly also have PTSD, but this must be reassessed after treatment for depression. The expert has concluded that it is more than 50 per cent likely that the injuries are due to the bullying. Associate lawyer Amina Riaz represents the two minor girls. She says they want justice and that the municipality should be held accountable. Photo: Heidi Ditlefsen / news – Must be held accountable Prosecutor Amina Riaz represents the mother and the two underage sisters. – They believe the municipality has not done enough to look after them and that they must be held accountable. They also have the idea that this should be learning for the future and that other children should not have to experience the same thing, says Riaz. She says the girls have been exposed to things that children should not experience. The state administrator in Agder determined last year that Lillesand secondary school has not done enough to ensure a safe school environment for the daughters. Lawyer Gro Hamre (TV), lawyer Axel Knudtzon and counselor in education in Lillesand municipality Anette Sylta Sandberg did not want to comment on the case. Photo: Heidi Ditlefsen / news Permanent damage to be established The family has sued Lillesand municipality and is demanding compensation for lost income and compensation. They demand up to NOK 90,000 for a small loss. Other compensation is determined at the court’s discretion. Lillesand municipality requested that there be separate negotiations if the bullying has led to lasting damage (over ten years). This was upheld by the district court. Lawyer Riaz says that both the lawyers and the family have been clear that this is neither reasonable nor usual procedure in compensation cases. – Regardless of whether there are permanent injuries or not, it is important for the girls to have the municipality’s responsibility determined, says Riaz. She is unsure whether there will be a new trial if the district court finds that the girls are not permanently injured. The trial started in Agder district court on Monday and ends today, Tuesday. It is unknown when the judgment will come. It was the girls’ older sister Presilya (25) who put the spotlight on the case two years ago. She then posted a post on Facebook where she talked about racism and bullying by two of the sisters at Lillesand secondary school. news and several other media covered the case, which led to young people in Lillesand receiving threats from all over the country.
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Three sisters appeared in court after suing Lillesand municipality in a bullying case – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
