The next of kin after the Baneheia case have little faith in certain answers

That’s what legal aid lawyer Håkon Brækhus says to Fædrelandsvennen.

– The way the case has been handled by the Oslo police district, there is now little hope that any reliable answers can be presented, which they can trust or settle with, says Brækhus.

He tells the newspaper that he is reacting to how the case has been handled by the Oslo police, who took over the investigation when the case was reopened in 2021.

On Friday, the Oslo State Prosecutor’s Office submitted its recommendation in the case to the Attorney General, but it is not yet known what this recommendation is.

– What is it about the handling that you react to?

– There are many things, but it is difficult to single out anything in particular. It concerns how the case has been handled overall, says Brækhus.

Andersen was convicted of the murder of Stine Sofie Sørstrønen, but acquitted of the murder of Lena Sløgedal Paulsen. In order to be able to prosecute him again, the acquittal must first be reopened by the Re-admission Commission.

If the case is not reopened, Paulsen’s murder will remain unsolved.

It was initially Viggo Kristiansen who was sentenced for the murder of Lena Sløgedal Paulsen. He was acquitted when his case was reopened this autumn, more than 20 years after he was first arrested.

In questioning in 2021 and 2022, Andersen maintained the explanation he had previously given. He also claims that Viggo Kristiansen killed the oldest girl and threatened Andersen to kill the youngest.

Svein Holden is defending Andersen. He expects that the case will be dismissed and that there will be no request for reopening against his client.

– It has to do with how we assess the evidence, Holden told NTB on Friday.