WILMINGTON (VG) An American 31-year-old man has been convicted of stabbing his estranged Norwegian wife over 20 times last winter.
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Eline (27) miraculously survived the extensive injuries she suffered.
Matthew Stallings has been in custody since the attack in Wilmington, North Carolina on January 6 last year. He appeared in court on Tuesday morning local time, where he was charged with, among other things, premeditated attempted murder and aggravated burglary.
After a short court hearing, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with a minimum term of 15 years.
– When I got a call about this case, we thought this was a murder. When it became clear that she would survive, I do not think I have ever seen so many police officers surprised, says public prosecutor Amy White at a press conference after the sentencing.
Thrown down the hallway
It was early in the evening of January 6 last year that Eline’s estranged husband made his way into her apartment armed with two pocket knives.
The two had at that time moved apart, and she stayed in the apartment with their minor children.
Inside the apartment, he stabbed her several times in the upper body, before he took the child with him and left the place. However, the injured mother got out of the apartment in an attempt to get help.
Outside, she met her ex-husband again, who stabbed her further. He then threw her down a hallway on the second floor, over four meters above the ground, before running away.
Admitted criminal guilt
Eline was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
It became clear that she had been stabbed more than 20 times in the upper body and in the neck / head region.
Eline was present when the court hearing was held in Wilmington on Tuesday.
In court, Stalling pleaded guilty to all charges against him.
It was expected in advance that he would enter into an agreement with the prosecution.
This is common practice in a number of criminal cases in the United States, and often means that the accused admits guilt and receives a discount in sentencing against him. There will then be no main hearing, but a court hearing where a judge must approve the agreement.
The judge sentenced him to 18 years in prison with a minimum term of 15 years.
The ex-husband risked life in prison if he had not entered into the agreement.
Eline and the child now live in Norway.
– This has been unbelievably heavy and tough. But now it’s over, she says to VG after the court hearing.
