A Norwegian couple from Romerike, northeast of Oslo, has been sentenced to what some legal experts call precedent-setting jail terms of 17 and 18 years, after being found guilty of sexually abusing their own two sons and the wife’s son from an earlier marriage. The couple’s defense attorney said they would appeal to Norway’s Supreme Court.
The case has been described as the worst sexual assault against children in Norway’s legal history. The boys, the oldest of which is now 18, were said to be crying with relief that they’d been believed, first by a lower court and now by the appeals court.
Their attorney, Gunhild Lærum, called the verdict and prison sentence “historic” because it not only involved prison terms that are lengthy by Norwegian standards but also a relatively large amount of financial compensation to the boys, as much as NOK 2.7 million (USD 450,000) according to newspaper Aftenposten.
“The tears are running and they are very, very relieved at the prospect they can finally put an end to this case,” Lærum said of her clients’ reaction. It’s unclear whether the Supreme Court will agree to hear the case.
newsinenglish.no staff
