UPDATED: A 28-year-old man from Rena in eastern Norway was arrested and charged on Thursday Sept 14 with the murder of 30-year-old Jonas Aarseth Henriksen, in a case that had baffled police and fascinated the public for months. Prosecutors call the arrest “an important step forward in our investigation” and aren’t ruling out more arrests.
The suspect, who has a long criminal record, has so far refused to undergo questioning. Police held a press conference after charges were filed but wouldn’t reveal any details about the man’s relation to Henriksen, or what led to the arrest.
A week later, on Sept 21, another man was also charged with murder or being an accessory to the murder of Henriksen. He was arrested in Elverum, not far from Rena, and ordered held in custody for two weeks as the investigation continued.
Henriksen, who ran a drilling and concrete transport firm in Hønefoss, was found shot to death in his car near a hytte (cabin) in the forest at New in Ådal, north of Hønefoss, on August 17. Speculation swirled that he’d been lured to the hytte after experiencing a long period of vandalism to his business, his vehicles and his home.
Henriksen went public with the vandalism and harassment a few months before he was killed, claiming he didn’t know who was behind it all or why. Even after his death, someone tagged busstops and other public places around Hønefoss with the words “Tyster Jonas” (Squealer Jonas). Henriksen had earlier reported the vandalism to police, who investigated and arrested two people who were later released. Police said on Thursday that the man now under arrest was not among earlier suspects brought in for questioning.
The murder case has had widespread media coverage and recently been the subject of a podcast that also has attracted thousands of viewers.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
