Woman to be retried for violence against former partners in Norway

Earlier this year, a woman was sentenced to three years in prison for violence, threats, and deprivation of liberty against four former female partners. While she has partially admitted guilt, she has appealed the conviction, and the case is set to be retried in the judicial system.

Defense attorney Alexander Nyheim Jenssen argues that the woman should be acquitted, as the incidents she has confessed to occurred several years ago, and contends that it was incorrect to classify the women as cohabitants. Police prosecutor Birgit Austad from the Southeast Police District is not surprised by the upcoming retrial. She emphasized that the central issue during the appeal will be the definition of cohabitation regarding three of the women involved.

The conviction was based on a legal provision addressing violence in close relationships, which carries a harsher penalty than treating the incidents as isolated acts. The Court of Appeal has scheduled six days for the retrial, likely to take place in early 2025.

One of the former partners, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed deep concern about the psychological toll of facing the court again, stating that she lived in fear for her life during her past relationship.

In the original ruling from the District Court in April 2024, the woman faced charges brought by her ex-partners, and the court found her guilty of violence in close relationships. The court had determined that three of the complainants had lived with the accused, as they had planned their futures together and shared household expenses. The ruling described the nature of the violence as “massive and intense,” despite the relatively short duration of the relationships.