Steinar Wangen described killing method in messages to journalists, court hears

A Norwegian investigative journalist testified Monday that Steinar Wangen, the 55-year-old accused of murder in Vestfold District Court, detailed his method of killing victims by suffocation with a pillow after rendering them unconscious with alcohol and pills.

Kadafi Zaman, a TV 2 journalist called by the defense, told the court that Wangen had sent messages describing how he took the life of a Swedish woman in September 2024—a case Swedish authorities had ruled a suicide. “A lady from Trollhättan contacted me on July 6 that year. On September 6, I took her life,” Wangen wrote, according to Zaman. “The case is registered as suicide by Swedish authorities.”

Zaman, who co-authored the book Mysteriet Steinar Wangen (The Steinar Wangen Mystery) and worked on the TV 2 documentary Dødsenglene (Angels of Death), said Wangen had been “quite persistent” in online forums offering his services to vulnerable individuals. The journalists created a fictitious profile, “Randi,” to engage with him. Wangen allegedly provided step-by-step instructions, including purchasing pills and alcohol before meeting at Nordby Hotel, where he would ensure the victim “would not wake up again” by using a pillow.

During a 100-minute interview with Zaman and his team, Wangen reportedly did not express remorse for his actions following his 2024 conviction for assisting a suicide. “He felt tricked into a trap,” Zaman said, adding that Wangen chose to remain despite being told he could leave. The journalist described Wangen as “alert” and aware of his actions during the conversation.

Wangen’s defense team questioned the decision to publicly identify him in the documentary and book. Zaman responded that editors made the call after reviewing roughly 300 messages in which Wangen referred to himself as a “serial killer.” The journalist also noted Wangen’s increased activity on Swedish euthanasia forums after his 2024 conviction, compared to Norwegian sites beforehand.

When asked by victim support lawyer Heidi Reisvang whether Wangen had inquired about alternative medical help for “Randi,” Zaman confirmed there was no such communication. He described some of Wangen’s suggested methods—including using superglue on a victim’s lips—as “brutal.”

Following Zaman’s testimony, Wangen objected to the raw documentary footage not being submitted as evidence, arguing it contained “significant information.”

The trial continues in Tønsberg.