Suspect in Oslo killing admits guilt after eight months in isolation

The 18-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing a 34-year-old woman in Oslo last August has admitted criminal responsibility for the first time, his defence lawyer confirmed in a custody hearing on Friday, Dagbladet reports.

Djordje Wilms, who has spent the past eight months in near-total isolation at Ullersmo Prison’s high-security Zulu unit, previously acknowledged carrying out the attack but denied criminal guilt, claiming political motivation. His change in stance follows months of solitary confinement, with his lawyer citing a shift in perspective after being removed from his former environment and losing internet access.

“As I understand it, this comes from a situation where he has now been taken out of the environment he was in before. He no longer has internet, and he sees the case differently than he did then,” defence attorney Petter Mandt told the court.

Wilms appeared via video link from Ullersmo Prison on Friday, dressed in a red tracksuit, as prosecutors requested an eight-week extension of his pre-trial detention. The hearing focused heavily on his prolonged isolation, which Wilms described as mentally taxing.

“Lately, I’ve noticed the mental strain of being alone so much. My wish is to serve my time with others soon,” he told the court.

Eight months in isolation
Since his arrest on the night of the killing, Wilms has been held in isolation for 243 days, confined to his cell for up to 22 hours a day. He described the conditions as “dull and exhausting,” with limited outdoor access to a small, caged exercise yard—approximately six by ten metres—and about one hour of daily activity offered by prison staff.

“On average, I’m outside my cell for about an hour a day,” he said, adding that prison authorities have declined his requests to join general population units due to safety concerns. “They’re afraid of what might happen to me—that someone might harm me because of what I’ve done.”

Wilms was initially charged with terror-related murder but is now facing a standard murder charge. Prosecutors highlighted his history of expressing hatred toward dark-skinned people and Muslims, though Wilms claimed in court that he has since abandoned those views.

“I used to say things to scare people. It was stupid,” he admitted. “I understand why it caused concern. But I’ve actually changed over the past few months. I was unsure of myself. I made one mistake.”

Prison officials cite security risks
Jonathan Vindheim Syverstad, head of the Zulu unit, testified that Wilms remains segregated due to risks of recidivism and his own safety, noting that the decision is reviewed every 14 days without appeal. Syverstad acknowledged that Wilms is prioritised for daily activities because of his age and the duration of his isolation but said the suspect frequently declines offers, including counselling from the Maritastiftelsen foundation.

Wilms confirmed he had attempted but abandoned sessions with a former inmate through the programme. “I gave it a try, but it didn’t help much,” he said.

Authorities are now processing a request to transfer Wilms to the National Enhanced Community Unit at Ila Prison, a move he supports. When asked if any other inmate at Ullersmo had been isolated as long, Syverstad replied: “Only him.”

Wilms purchased a hunting knife one week before the attack, in which the victim, Tamima Nibras Juhar, was stabbed 69 times at a child welfare-supported housing facility in Oslo’s Kampen district.