three men charged with murder released from custody

Three men charged with the murder of a woman in her 30s found dead in an elevator in Oslo’s Grønland district have been released from pretrial detention, Dagbladet reports.

The men, aged 32, 35, and 37, were arrested days after the woman’s body was discovered on April 11. All three deny any involvement in the crime.

Court hearings scheduled for Wednesday were canceled, leading to their release. Defense attorney Knut Ditlev-Simonsen, representing the 37-year-old, confirmed his client was satisfied with the decision. Attorneys for the other two men also confirmed their release.

Prosecutors have previously stated that preliminary autopsy findings suggested the death was a homicide. Police have provided limited details about the investigation.

The 35-year-old suspect had a prior relationship with the victim, described as friendly. He was arrested outdoors during a live TikTok broadcast. His defense attorney, Daniel Storrvik, has said his client is deeply affected by both the allegations and the death.

All three men have extensive criminal records. The 35-year-old has prior convictions for assault, robbery, and threats, among other offenses. The 37-year-old has been convicted of violence and a 2022 drug-related case. The 32-year-old has convictions for drug offenses, intimidating behavior, carrying a knife, and driving under the influence without a valid license.