One of the defendants in a major case of sexual assault against children and even babies claimed in court on Tuesday that he was “incredibly glad that police stopped me.” He and the other four defendants face life in custody because of the danger they’ll revert to pedophilia once freed.
The 32-year-old defendant in what’s been called one of the most “appalling” cases to get underway in a Norwegian courtroom pleaded guilty to all charges against him and claimed he needed “to take responsibility for what I have done.” He’s charged with raping his own three-month-old son and the two-month-old daughter of a female co-defendant, and state broadcaster NRK reported that he claimed he “didn’t completely understand the seriousness of what I’ve done. I didn’t think such small children could be damaged by such. I understand better now, but I need more help and treatment.”
All five defendants have also pleaded guilty to all charges against them that are backed by photographic and video evidence. Newspaper Aftenposten reported Tuesday that 10 more cases loom nationwide based on more evidence of what’s called a “grotesque” network of pedophiles in Norway and abroad.
Aftenposten reported that police “stumbled” upon the network while examining the computer of a runaway 12-year-old girl whose parents had called police for help. The computer contained sexually provocative photos and a chat-log that led police to the home of a 34-year-old man in Solør in Hedmark who had a criminal record of sexual assault against children. Evidence found at his home led to the arrests of the other defendants, of whom four have been evaluated as pedophiles by court-appointed psychiatrists.
newsinenglish.no staff
