Police in Rogaland County on Norway’s West Coast finally confirmed on Wednesday that 13-year-old Sunniva Ødegård was indeed murdered while walking home Sunday evening in the small town of Varhaug. Autopsy results confirmed the murder, but police still won’t say how she died.
Ødegård’s body was found just 150 meters from her home, on a pathway that runs along the railroad tracks on the line to and from Stavanger. A 17-year-old local boy was arrested and charged with the the murder Monday evening.
His defense attorney, who has refused to speak directly with the media, issued a statement saying his client will not appeal a court order to hold him in custody for at least the next two weeks, while police continue their investigation. He still denies killing Ødegård, but has admitted to being at the place where her body was found.
He has also admitted breaking into a local day care center earlier on Sunday evening. Police have been tracing his movements on the night of the murder and had scheduled what was expected to be a lengthy period of questioning on Wedneday. The 17-year-old broke off the session, however, refusing to answer more questions.
newsinenglish.no staff
