– Very few will be able to understand what it means to serve 21 years in prison. In addition, he was innocent. When he was released, he had spent a greater part of his life in prison than in freedom. This is what defense lawyer Bjørn Andre Gulstad says at a press conference after Thursday’s court hearing, where Viggo Kristiansen was acquitted. The rule of law has committed an assault on Kristiansen, the defender believes. He says it is difficult not to think that several investigative steps that form the basis for the acquittal have been requested and pointed out since 2010. – It is on days like this that we should be very happy that we do not have the death penalty in Norway. Then we would not have been able to witness this. It had been a day of mourning, says Gulstad. – Piling on my legs a life that I have had to postpone Kristiansen is not himself at the press conference. Gulstad says that he has a strong need to distance himself from the press. Instead, he reads out a post on behalf of Viggo Kristiansen: – On 19 May 2000, two innocent children were robbed of their lives. The pain the survivors have had is worse than serving an innocent life in prison. I can see how upsetting it must have been for those left behind to be told that one of the two convicted was not guilty. But I ask for your understanding that I could not live with a wrongful conviction for a crime I never committed. – Everything that has been done since the reopening has shown what I have always said: I never had anything to do with the crime in Baneheia. I have suffered every second, minute, hour, day, month and year for 21 years as a result of the mistakes. Kristiansen writes that it is largely the efforts of private individuals that have led to his acquittal. He thanks the support group, friends of the family, parts of the correctional service, all the lawyers who have assisted, and those who have made documentaries, books and podcasts about the case. In conclusion, Kristiansen asks for calm in the post: – Now I ask for peace and calm in the attempt to get back on my feet a life that I have had to postpone for 22 years. – The rest of my life starts today. Expecting regret Minister for Justice and Emergency Emilie Enger Mehl will give a statement on Thursday and inform about the government’s further follow-up. A press conference has been announced at 19:00. Gulstad says that they are now waiting for an apology from Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl. Furthermore, he says that they expect a thorough investigation, where one must also look at other criminal cases. Final decision The acquittal of Viggo Kristiansen is now legally binding. – I accept the verdict, Viggo Kristiansen said briefly and looked away at the family when the judge had read out the decision in the Borgarting Court of Appeal. As the Attorney General asked for an acquittal in October, it was no secret what Judge Tonje Vang would conclude. – The investigation must assess where in the process it has failed, and where the error has occurred. For Kristiansen, the situation is anyway that he is acquitted of the serious actions he was convicted of in 2000, said the judge. When Kristiansen was convicted in the Baneheia case, he was also sentenced for two other matters which he has acknowledged. For these cases, Kristiansen was sentenced to ten months in prison. Kristiansen will not serve time for this, since he has already served 21 years. But it becomes important for the compensation case. Kristiansen’s defenders have previously indicated a compensation claim of over NOK 30 million.
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– Today the rest of my life starts – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
