Woman Admits Killing Man with Axe in Løten Case, Appeals Conviction
Løten, Norway – Veronica Lystrup, 44, confessed in Eidsivating lagmannsrett (Hamar Court of Appeal) on Tuesday to striking Ole Andreas Sønstvedt, 37, in the head with an axe, a pivotal development in the ongoing appeal of her 16-year prison sentence for his death. The confession, however, was accompanied by a claim of self-defense, and Lystrup maintains she did not intend to kill him.
Lystrup was convicted last summer of killing, dismembering, and burning the remains of Sønstvedt at her farm in Løten in January 2024. She immediately appealed the verdict, having previously told investigators she witnessed three unknown individuals commit the crime on her property. Her defense attorney, Svein Holden, stated to the court that Lystrup now asserts she acted in self-defense during a violent altercation with Sønstvedt on New Year’s Eve.
“I hit Ole Andreas in the head with an axe,” Lystrup told the court, according to reporting from NRK. “For my defense, I took an axe that was there. It wasn’t my intention to kill him. I have given several incorrect explanations to the police and the district court, and I apologize for that.”
The case took a dramatic turn as Lystrup also admitted partial guilt regarding the dismemberment and burning of Sønstvedt’s remains, a component of the second count in the indictment.
Police initially responded to Lystrup’s farm on January 24, 2024, after Sønstvedt was reported missing on January 11th. The last confirmed sighting of Sønstvedt was at Lystrup’s farm on New Year’s Eve 2023. A search of the property, focusing on a lavvo (a type of Sami tent) near the roadside, revealed bloodstains on the walls, floor, and furniture, as well as remnants of a burned mobile phone, jewelry, and footwear.
In a surprising development on Tuesday morning, authorities announced they believe they have located the axe believed to be the murder weapon. State Prosecutor Magnus Schartum-Hansen told the court that Lystrup provided information regarding the axe’s location, leading to its discovery on her property. “And I can announce that we have found an object that is probably the murder weapon,” Schartum-Hansen said. Police are currently investigating the identify.
Lystrup’s initial statements to police described Sønstvedt being picked up by a dark Volvo on December 30th or 31st, 2023. Ten months later, she changed her story, alleging that three masked individuals – two men and a woman – killed Sønstvedt and set his body ablaze. She maintained this account during the initial trial.
The prosecution presented evidence at the original trial suggesting Lystrup was lying about the presence of other perpetrators. The district court concluded that her claims were fabricated to avoid conviction.
The court has scheduled a site visit to Lystrup’s farm on Wednesday. Defense attorney Holden requested a postponement of Lystrup’s testimony, stating she needs more time to prepare. The trial is expected to last 12 days, with over 20 witnesses scheduled to testify, including some who appeared in the original trial and new witnesses brought forward by the prosecution, who have conducted further investigation into the case.
Schartum-Hansen indicated that new evidence gathered during the ongoing investigation will be presented to the court.