The man who was stabbed and unconscious in a car park, Kjetil André Østhus (28), has a brother who works in the police in Haugesund.
Many of his colleagues were the 28-year-old’s friends, state prosecutor Birgitte Budal Løvlund said during the trial, which began on Monday.
– This has affected them greatly, so I am drawing the court’s attention to it, said Løvlund during his introductory speech.
As a result of Østhus’ police-employed friends, the Sør-West police district decided that the police in Haugesund should not investigate the murder further. The Stavanger police quickly took over the investigation.
The father pays tribute to the police
The impression the case had made on the police officers in Haugesund was also evident during a memorial service for Østhus shortly before the funeral.
After the memorial service, the 28-year-old’s parents were surprised when they were driving home, says Gunvald Østhus (59), Kjetil André’s father.
– On the way out of the cemetery, the traffic was stopped. The police stood at every roundabout and stopped the traffic so we could pass. They stood and greeted us throughout, says the 59-year-old.
– It was incredibly well done. Presumably, only Kjetil André and the king get that kind of attention, so thank you very much for that.
TRIBUTE TO THE SON: Gunvald Østhus (59) spoke warmly of his deceased youngest son when he testified in court. Photo: Simen Askjer / TV 2
TV 2 has sent several questions to the police district in connection with this case, but the inquiry has not been answered.
Desperate emergency calls
The murder took place in a car park at Presthaug in Haugesund on the night of 1 January 2022. With several of his closest friends present, Østhus was stabbed in the chest.
The autopsy report shows that the 28-year-old died of haemorrhage from the stab wound to the heart. At 01.27, three of his five friends called the police and an ambulance at the scene.
EVIDENCE: The red ring shows the fireworks that prosecutors believe may have sparked an argument before the murder. The car on the right is associated with a person who was at the scene. The image is taken from the prosecutor’s illustration folder. Photo: The police
In court, the emergency calls were played. Østhus’ friends are clearly desperate for help as they explain that their friend has been stabbed, that there is blood everywhere, and that a perpetrator has run into an apartment.
About four minutes after the first emergency call, the first ambulance arrived at the scene. By then Østhus was already unconscious. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
All the eyewitnesses have pointed to a British 21-year-old man as the perpetrator. The 21-year-old himself denies any involvement in the murder.
The Briton was visiting a Norwegian friend to celebrate the New Year. The two were out in the car park at the same time as Østhus and his friends, who had gone out to set off fireworks.
– Pointed guns at me
During the trial, the Briton did not want to explain himself, but several of his police interviews were shown in court.
OVERVIEW: In the block of flats marked with the number 1, the defendant and his friend celebrated the New Year. In the block of flats marked with the number 4, Kjetil André Østhus (28) and his friends celebrated. Photo: The police
In a questioning on the afternoon of 1 January, he says that he and his friend were only going out to buy cigarettes when he left the block of flats and encountered a fierce police presence.
– When I came out of the apartment, the police were pointing guns at me and shouting at me. My friend said I had to lie down, otherwise I would be shot, says the 21-year-old in the interview.
However, the prosecution and the many witnesses have explained that he and his friend ran back into the block of flats after the stabbing.
They also explained this to the police, which is why the two were arrested when they came out again a short time later.
THE SCENE: Police crime technicians worked for a long time in the car park where the murder took place on 1 January 2022. Photo: Jan Kåre Ness / NTB
The Briton’s mate was for a period charged with complicity in murder, but the case has later been dropped due to the state of the evidence on his part.
Knives with blood
Inside the apartment where the Briton and his friend celebrated the New Year, the police have found knives and clothes with blood and DNA originating from both the deceased Østhus and themselves.
Two knives with a blade of 23 centimeters appeared to have been washed, but the police’s crime technicians nevertheless secured samples showing traces of blood. The samples match the accused and the deceased.
Several of the defendant’s clothes were found in a washing machine with blood on them.
FLOWERS AND LIGHTS: Kjetil André Østhus (28) had a large circle of friends. Photo: Jan Kåre Ness / NTB
If the court should find it proven that it was the 21-year-old who killed Østhus, it will be central to decide whether he was sane at the time of the crime.
He has a number of diagnoses, including paranoid psychosis and various behavioral disorders, according to the experts who have observed him.
State Attorney Løvlund has announced that she may request a transfer to compulsory mental health care in the case, but she may also request a custodial sentence – depending on what emerges during the trial.
“A bunch of kids”
In the interviews with the police, the young Brit has said that he was mistreated growing up, and that he has been trained in self-defense by his violent father.
PROSECUTOR: Public prosecutor Birgitte Budal Løvlund is handling the case for the public prosecutor. Photo: Simen Askjer / TV 2
He claims he has a clear “fight-or-flee response”, in Norwegian a “fight or flight” response, which means that he tries to escape if he gets scared. If he has nowhere to escape, he goes on the attack, he explains.
During the trial, this may become relevant even if the 21-year-old denies any involvement in the murder. He has explained that “a bunch of kids” set off fireworks at the car park, and that he was so scared that his friend had to calm him down.
The prosecution believes that a possible discussion about fireworks may be the reason why the 21-year-old attacked with the knife.
– It appears to me as a completely senseless murder, says the defendant’s defender, lawyer Ole Magnus Strømmen, to TV 2.
Fell asleep in the court
During the trial, where the defendant suddenly decided not to explain himself, despite what he had previously warned, the 21-year-old had to sit for a long time and watch video footage from his own interrogations.
DEFENDER: Lawyer Ole Magnus Strømmen represents the 21-year-old defendant. Photo: Simen Askjer / TV 2
At some point he fell asleep. Then the court administrator intervened and asked if he was listening.
– I don’t listen to myself talking to the police, answered the 21-year-old.
– You don’t see the point in listening? asked the judge.
– No not really.
– Can you still show the court some respect by not falling asleep?
– I’m sorry. I’m trying, but I’m not getting the right medication for my ADHD, he replied.
On Tuesday, the five friends of Østhus who were at the scene will explain themselves to the court. Seven days have been set aside for the trial.
