A 20-year-old British citizen is charged with the murder that took place in Haugesund on New Year’s Eve this year.
It is likely that a request for mandatory mental health protection will be made, experiences NRK extension.
It was on the night of 1 January this year that 28-year-old Kjetil André Østhus from Karmøy was stabbed and killed in Haugesund when he was out with friends lighting the fireworks.
– I don’t want to comment on how my client reacts to the allegations, but he denies any criminal responsibility for the incident, the man’s defender, Ole Magnus Strømmen, tells NRK.
The 28-year-old was stabbed outdoors. Emergency services were attempted at the scene, but his life could not be saved.
Waiting for trial
The family’s legal aid lawyer, Benedicte Storhaug, says she’s happy the case is coming to court.
– The mourners are eager for the case to be legally dealt with, they have been waiting for it for 1 year now, writes Storhaug in an SMS to VG.
He says the prosecution is as expected and points out that there were many witnesses to the murder. He confirms that there are doubts about sanity.
– There are sanity concerns and therefore ample evidence is expected to be provided within 7 days of court, he writes.
The trial will begin in Haugaland and Sunnhordland District Court on January 16 next year.
