The murder of a 53-year-old woman at a hotel in Molde over the weekend has been linked to what the police say was a “romantic relationship” between the woman and the man charged in her death. Both were union representatives attending a conference of the Norwegian trade union federation Fagforbundet.
The murder shocked colleagues, all of whom were staying at the Hotell Alexandra in Molde. Police were called to the hotel just before midnight, after a guest informed the front desk about “a bloody fight” going on in one of the hotel’s rooms.
When police arrived they found the man beaten and bloody with ripped clothing, and the woman lying on the hotel room’s balcony. Police told reporters that two or three other Fagforbundet colleagues had tried to break up the fight, and were restraining the man from fleeing.
The man, in his 50s, is from Nordmøre and was charged with premeditated murder on Thursday, after police obtained results of an autopsy on the woman. Prosecutor Laura Havdal told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that the two had a romantic relationship, apparently since last spring.
“This is a deep personal tragedy, and now it’s important that our members take care of each other,” said Fagforbundet leader Jan Davidsen, often considered one of the most powerful men in Norway.
Police were also investigating another murder in Oslo, after a man was found dead in his apartment at Grünerløkka earlier this week. Police said they think he was murdered sometime Friday night or Saturday, after he’d been out to dinner with visitors.
Views and News staff
