Eight soldiers convicted of assault in Åndalsnes court case

An unusual court case unfolded at the Møre and Romsdal District Court earlier in September, involving eight highly trained special soldiers. Dressed in civilian clothes and accompanied by their respective defenders, these soldiers were accused of engaging in a brawl with local youth in Åndalsnes immediately following a multi-day march.

One victim testified in court that he feared for his life during the incident. The court recently found six of the special soldiers guilty of assaulting local young men, with several convicted of physically attacking and kicking them. Sentences for these soldiers range from 21 to 60 days in jail.

“We are pleased to have our request for convictions heard, and we will review the reasoning behind the acquittals,” stated Prosecutor Inger Thorn Nordheim, who had sought prison sentences from 24 to 60 days. She has not yet reviewed the full judgment but is considering appealing the acquittals to a higher court.

Two soldiers were acquitted due to insufficient evidence to impose prison sentences. One was accused of kicking and striking a specific individual but was deemed not guilty. The other faced charges of attacking a young man alongside others but was similarly cleared. “This is encouraging, and I am sure he is very pleased. We believe this decision is entirely correct,” remarked his attorney, Mari Vik-Slettvold.

In a further development, a third soldier was exonerated for the brawl but found guilty of disturbing the peace. Central to the trial was whether the soldiers acted in self-defense or as aggressors. They claimed to have faced threats and racist insults from local youths shortly after entering the establishment. Video evidence presented in court showed a group assaulting a lone man. The accused soldiers denied these actions as shown in the footage. The judgment has not yet become final.