He is relieved to be done. Markus Kvarving and his roommate are on their way out of courtroom 250. On Wednesday, he was one of several victims who pleaded guilty in the Oslo district court in the case against Zaniar Matapour. Matapour is charged with having shot 11, killed two, and injured even more in a terrorist attack on 25 June 2022. Kvarving himself was hit in the shoulder when he used himself as a shield, protecting a woman outside a London pub on 25 June 2022. Kvarving after testifying against Zaniar Matapour on Wednesday. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB While he was testifying, he sought eye contact with the perpetrator. – It is important for me to look him in the eye, and I managed to do that once, Kvarving explains to news. – How did he seem? – He seems poor. He doesn’t look at us sitting in the witness box much, but mostly sits and looks down, and it looks like he doesn’t dare to stand up for what he tried to create fear about when he made that attack. – Seemed poor In court, Kvarving told about how he has become more tired, and struggled to sleep in the wake of the attack. He does not like large crowds, and needs control over the surroundings he is in. He has rarely taken the name of the perpetrator in his mouth, he also explained. – It should be good when the trial is over. Then the next thing is that he receives his sentence, and then I will look forward to that, says Kvarving. – There are mostly only pleasant people here, except for one individual case, he says, referring to Matapour. Kvarving was one of five victims who explained themselves on Wednesday. With few exceptions, Zaniar Matapour has looked down at a stack of investigative documents, or jotted down messages on post-it notes to one of his defenders, while the court has heard their testimony. Zaniar Matapour in court on Tuesday. Photo: Torstein Georg Bøe / Torstein Georg Bøe When he was brought back in after the lunch break in court, he looked around at the rows of victims sitting around him in the courtroom. He then stared down at the table again. – To me it is inexplicable With the exception of Tuesday morning, when he interrupted the judge to ask why the trial should continue during Ramadan, Matapour has remained silent. There is uncertainty as to whether Matapour will explain himself in court, and he has applied not to be present during the witness statements. Kvarving was also asked about this by the prosecutor when he was in the witness box. – When he takes on the “job” of creating fear, he must face the consequences. – I can’t wait to leave this room and get on with the day. He can’t do that. Espen Aleksander Evjenth explained what he experienced after 25 June. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB Besides Kvarving, Espen Aleksander Evjenth explained himself in the district court today. He was shot in the head while standing on the dance floor of a London pub. Evjenth was also asked what he thought about the defendant not wanting to give an explanation. – I would have liked to have been told what he wanted to achieve and why he has done this. To me it is inexplicable. I don’t understand that it is possible to act in such a way, to sit here and be unaffected. It gives me some questions, it does. I wish I had known. Evjenth says at the same time that he understands what the defendant’s motivation has been. – It would have been good if you were able to stand for it as well. Marius Kulberg, who was sitting on Per in the corner when he was shot in the thigh, stated in the witness box that he believes it is important that the truth comes out. – It is important that he receives the most severe punishment. What happened is unforgivable. The trial will last until May 16. In the first weeks, a lot of time is set aside for witness statements from those who were shot, and those who were in the London pub and Per on the corner when the attack took place last year. Four others charged with the attack are still under investigation.
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Was shot in the shoulder – made eye contact with the perpetrator in the district court – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
