Norwegian woman sentenced to 16 years for New Year’s Eve murder and body desecration

A 44-year-old Norwegian woman has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for the murder and dismemberment of her ex-boyfriend on New Year’s Eve 2023, following an appeal that upheld the original ruling.

The verdict was delivered Tuesday by Eidsivating Court of Appeal, as first reported by public broadcaster NRK. Veronica Lystrup was found guilty of killing Ole Andreas Sønstvedt, 37, before cutting up and burning his body in Løten, eastern Norway.

Last summer, Hedmarken and Østerdal District Court had already sentenced Lystrup to 16 years in prison and ordered her to pay 450,000 Norwegian kroner (approx. €40,000) in compensation to the victim’s family. The appeals court confirmed the same penalty.

The case began on December 31, 2023, when Sønstvedt was killed. Lystrup had contested the district court’s ruling but will now serve the full sentence.