Martial arts coach sentenced to prison for assault – NRK Vestland

April 29
2024
at
12:29 p.m

Martial arts coach sentenced to prison for assault

The martial arts coach who was prosecuted for abusing his position to obtain sexual intercourse and for sexual intercourse with minors under the legal age for sexual intercourse, has been convicted by the Hordaland district court on both charges.

The indictment included abuse of three minor athletes, and spanned a period of 15 years.

The man has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison. A penalty discount of three months has been given due to the long processing time, NRK is informed.

In addition, the man must pay compensation of a total of NOK 550,000 to the three victims, as well as compensation of NOK 100,000.

He is deprived of the right to coach girls under the age of 18 over a period of five years.

– He is convicted of everything. It was a relief and as expected, says counsel for one of the victims, Cathrine Pryser Grøndahl to NRK.

In court, the man’s defender, lawyer Frida Nikoline Barlaug Haugland, asked for a full acquittal and said that the man does not recognize himself in the accusations.

She warns that the man will appeal the sentence.

– My client is disappointed by the verdict, and by not being believed in his explanation, says defender Frida Nikoline Barlaug Haugland and says that the man has decided to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Prosecutor Eli Andrea Skaar submitted a request for three years and nine months in prison.

– The sentencing is somewhat lower than we wanted, but we are satisfied that he has now been convicted, says Cecilie Wallewik, legal counsel for two of the victims.

NRK clarifies: In an earlier version of this case, it was stated that the man received a prison sentence of two years and six months, with a three-month penalty discount. It has been made clear in the case that the penalty is thus two years and three months in prison. The matter has been updated at 14:42.