Viggo Kristiansen’s psychologist: – I remembered completely wrong

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On Friday, Viggo Kristiansen’s psychologist said that Kristiansen had partially admitted to assaulting a young boy. Kristiansen has previously denied this abuse.

Along with the indictment for Baneheia, Kristiansen was also indicted for abusing a boy when the boy was five or six years old.

Kristiansen was convicted of the abuse of the boy in the district court, but acquitted in the court of appeal. The boy received NOK 50,000 in compensation.

On Friday, the psychologist Austad was asked if Kristiansen had admitted to having committed the sexual assault against the boy. Then he answered:

– He did not acknowledge that it was in the form that was described from him (…) I take it to mean that he agreed that he had crossed the line.

Now he’s back to undo this completely.

<-Atlé Austad

Viggo’s former psychologist

What do you want to correct, asks State Attorney Johan Øverberg.

– I remembered completely wrong, begins the psychologist.

He says that he was contacted by Viggo Kristiansen’s girlfriend after he had finished testifying.

– I then found out that Viggo was quite angry with me.

He then says that he went to his own journals to check the information:

– Kristiansen has never acknowledged anything in relation to this boy. This is solely because I have remembered completely wrong, says Austad.

He then says that he has written a small account of how it could happen.

– I was completely convinced that he had it, says Austad further.

Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB

Then Jan Helge Andesen’s defender, Svein Holden, begins to ask Austad questions:

– How could this have happened, that you have remembered wrongly? Holden asks

– It is simply my thoughts that have become false memories, says Austad.

Have you spoken to anyone other than Viggo Kristiansen’s girlfriend about this?

– No, I haven’t spoken to anyone else, replies Austad.

– No other?

– No.

The judge then asks Austad if he read the judgment before he was to testify.

– I have read the judgment relating to the Baneheia case in 2007-2008. I have read what concerns the Baneheia case.

– Does that mean that you do not remember whether you have read the parts of the judgment that concern these sexual abuses against other children?

– At least I don’t remember that now, from the other cases, replies Austad.

Photo: Helge Mikalsen / VG

Jan Helge Andersen was convicted of murder and assault in Baneheia together with his friend Viggo Kristiansen. Kristiansen has always said he is innocent, and in 2022 he was finally acquitted. By then he had served more than 20 years in prison.

Kristiansen has been a key witness in this trial. It is because Andersen maintains his explanation, where he claims that it was the two of them who carried out the crimes together.

A central point in Kristiansen’s acquittal is the argument his defenders have used that Kristiansen has previously always admitted the abuses he committed before Baneheia.

That the psychologist Austad said on Friday that Kristiansen had partially admitted something to him that he had previously denied, is therefore relevant in the case against Jan Helge Andersen.

VG has not yet succeeded in getting hold of Viggo Kristiansen’s lawyer Brynjar Meling.

Viggo Kristiansen’s lawyer Brynjar Meling. Photo: Helge Mikalsen / VG
The first verdict:

Kristiansand city court sentenced Viggo Kristiansen to 21 years in prison for, among other things, the rape and murder of the two girls. Jan Helge Andersen was sentenced to 17 years in prison, and acquitted of the murder of Lena Sløgedal Paulsen.

The appeal case:

Viggo Kristiansen and Jan Helge Andersen both appealed the verdict. Kristiansen because he pleaded not guilty, while Andersen appealed the sentencing. The Court of Appeal upheld the verdict against Kristiansen, and gave Andersen a two-year longer sentence. They both appealed to the Supreme Court. Kristiansen’s case was not processed, while Andersen’s was rejected. The sentence of 19 years’ imprisonment was upheld.

The reopening:

Kristiansen maintained his innocence throughout and petitioned for the case to be reopened several times. On 18 February 2021, the Re-admission Commission decided that the case should be looked at again. Kristiansen was released from Ila prison on 1 June 2021, after 21 years behind bars.

New investigation:

It is decided that the Oslo police district will carry out the new investigation. Andersen is charged in the new Baneheia investigation, for the murder of Lena Sløgedal Paulsen (10), for which he had previously been acquitted.

Acquittal:

Attorney General Jørn Sigurd Maurud apologized most strongly to Viggo Kristiansen when he presented the Attorney General’s recommendation to the Borgarting Court of Appeal in October 2022. The result of the new investigation was that Kristiansen must be acquitted. On 15 December, an acquittal was handed down in the Borgarting Court of Appeal. Viggo Kristiansen was thus innocently convicted of the murders in Baneheia.

New indictment:

On 12 January 2024, the Attorney General requested that charges be brought against Jan Helge Andersen for the murder of Lena Sløgedal Paulsen (10). On 16 April 2024, the trial against him begins in Sør-Rogaland district court.

The article is in Norwegian

Tags: #Viggo #Kristiansens #psychologist #remembered completely wrong

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