Elderly Married Couple Dies in Apparent Murder-Suicide in Kristiansund

On Friday 19 May, a married couple in their 70s died in Kristiansund from gunshot wounds. The woman was found badly injured outside the house. She was taken to hospital, but was pronounced dead a short time later. The man was found dead inside the house. He too had gunshot wounds.

The investigation so far indicates that shots were fired at the woman both inside the home and outside the home at the place where she was found, the police state in a press release.

The man has the status of target.

– The police have worked according to a main hypothesis that the man first shot the woman and then took his own life. An extensive investigation has strengthened this main hypothesis, says police inspector Ove Brudevoll in Møre and Romsdal police district.

Found legal weapons in the house

The police were alerted by people who saw the injured woman outside the house and they called out armed forces.

Several firearms were found inside the house. The police say that the weapon that was used is a handgun. It was legally registered on the man.

The police have carried out inquiries in the neighbourhood, interviewed about 30 witnesses, obtained video surveillance, gone through telephones and obtained health information in the case.

– There have been no eyewitnesses to the action, says Brudevoll. Both died from gunshot wounds.

Tragic thing

The police have no basis to say anything about a motive for the action so far in the investigation.

– It has been important for us to look after the bereaved together with the municipality’s crisis team. This is a very tragic matter, of course primarily for family and friends, but also for a small local community, says Brudevoll.

The investigation has not been completed. Among other things, they are waiting for answers to submitted samples to ensure a trace. In addition, several surveys must be carried out and the review of digital tracks has not been completed.

– The crime has not been released and the reason is that we are getting used to answers on sure tracks, says Merethe Falkevik, who is a police lawyer and head of prosecution.

The bereaved have been appointed legal counsel.