It was dramatic what unfolded in Haugaland and Sunnhordland District Court on Monday morning.
Immediately after the sentencing, Vassbakk fell off his chair and hit the floor with a thud.
His lawyer Stian Bråstein rushed down to him, and the police were quickly on the scene.
IN THE GROUND: Convicted Johny Vassbakk fell over when the conclusion was read out in court. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB
The court decided to take a break while Vassbakk received health supervision.
When the press left the hall, he was still lying on the ground without moving.
Probably due to a drop in blood pressure
At 10.17 an ambulance was in place outside the courthouse. At 10.42 a car from the emergency room also arrived at the scene.
HEALTH AID: Shortly after the sentencing, an ambulance was on the scene in Haugesund. Photo: Elias Håvarstein / TV 2
Soon after, a doctor entered the courtroom.
At 10.58, i.e. an hour after Vassbakk learned the result, the ambulance left the court and it was announced that the sentencing would continue within a short time.
SUMMONSED: A doctor arrived at the court on Monday morning. Photo: Elias Håvarstein / TV 2
His defender Stian Kristensen confirms to TV 2 that he will not be present for the rest of the day, and at 11.14 the prisoner transport left the courthouse.
Follow the sentencing on TV 2 Direkte:
According to Kristensen, health personnel have stated that the reaction was most likely due to a drop in blood pressure. According to the judge, he must now return to Åna prison at Jæren in Rogaland.
17 years and millions in compensation
Just over a quarter of an hour before the convicts’ malaise, the court sat and professional judge Arne Vikse began to read out their conclusion.
This is happening in the wake of the historic trial that was held in Haugaland and Sunnhordland District Court last autumn.
The extensive presentation of evidence stretched over a month and a half, and culminated in the state prosecutors in Rogaland submitting a request that Johny Vassbakk be sentenced to 17 years in prison.
They believe it has been proven that it was he who was behind the murder of Birgitte Tengs (17) on Karmøy in 1995.
Vikse states that the sentence, of 17 years in prison, is unanimous.
The verdict is thus in line with the prosecution’s claim.
In addition, Vassbakk is sentenced to pay NOK 600,000 in compensation to each of Tengs’ parents, which is also in line with the defense lawyers’ claim.
CONVICTED: Johny Vassbakk (52) has been convicted of the murder of Birgitte Tengs (17). Via his defenders, he has already announced that he will appeal against such an outcome. Photo: Private
DNA crucial
During the trial, everything from the police’s flawed initial investigation to Vassbakk’s so-called modus operandi and sexual preferences were highlighted.
The parties have strongly disagreed about most things, but both the prosecution and the defense are in agreement on one thing:
LOCATION: This photo was frequently mentioned during the trial. The defenders believe it shows a lack of crime scene discipline from the police and crime scene technicians. Photo: Jan-Petter Dahl / TV 2
The case hinges on the probative value of a DNA discovery linking Vassbakk to the crime scene.
The DNA discovery was made on the outside of Tengs’ tights. This is not a complete profile, but a so-called Y-profile.
But through advanced statistical methods and an extensive genealogy project, the prosecution believes that the court can rule out that the Y-profile belongs to someone other than the 52-year-old.
Contamination and contagion
Vassbakk’s defenders, for their part, have stated that the police investigation does not contain information that enables the court to establish that the DNA found ended up on the victim in connection with the murder itself.
They believe it may have ended up at Tengs via so-called contamination or contagion.
Vassbakk, who denies any involvement in the case, was a well-known figure in the local community in the 1990s and was often in the police’s spotlight. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was convicted a number of times.
DEFENDER: Lawyer Stian Kristensen is one of two defenders for Johny Vassbakk. Photo: Frode Sunde / TV 2
During the trial, the defenders opened up that the police’s frequent contact with Vassbakk and a lack of crime scene discipline may have led to the Y-profile being deposited on the pantyhose.
Alternatively, they believe that it cannot be ruled out that there was contact between the victim and their client prior to the murder, for example by the fact that they were at the same bowling alley, sat in the same bus seat or that the 17-year-old hitchhiked with Vassbakk.
Requested acquittal
The defenders’ claim was that Vassbakk should be acquitted.
Alternatively, they requested that the sentence be set at 16 years’ imprisonment, if the court nevertheless decided to sentence their client.
Regardless of Monday’s verdict, it is expected that there will be an appeal hearing in the Gulating Court of Appeal in Stavanger.
At the weekend, defender Stian Kristensen stated to TV 2 that there is no scenario where Vassbakk is convicted, without him going to appeal.
– No, this is not on the sentencing. He has insisted throughout that he has nothing to do with the murder, so there is no doubt that he will appeal if he is convicted, said Kristensen.
A new round in court is already scheduled for the autumn.
