– It has mildly been a hell, but this is what we’ve worked towards and scored, says Roar Juel Johannessen.
It’s only been a few minutes since Henning Hotvedt (40) was found guilty of the murder of Kristin Juel Johannessen (12).
she was found murdered on 5 August 1999. the medical examiner concluded that she died of suffocation, most likely performed with bare hands . Kverking, they called it.
17 after the twelve year old was killed, was a culprit found guilty.
– It’s a relief that we finally are finished with this by 17 years. I’m very relieved, says Roar Juel Johannessen.
– Now it’s a little empty head and empty the body and legs are “jelly,” but we get there we wanted. No matter how confident we have been, it is the jury’s verdict that is decisive, so we’ve never been able to be absolutely sure of the outcome.
Guilty for the second time
Close to the day since the appeal by murder of Kristin Juel Johannessen (12) started in Borgarting court of Appeal, has Christina’s mother, father and sister sat in the courtroom.
the only day they would not be present, was the day when the court saw photographs of the murdered girl.
On the bench in front of Christina’s family Henning Hotvedt (40) sitting.
He is now the second time found guilty of the murder of Kristin.
After initially have been sentenced to twelve years in prison for the murder in December 2001, he was in February 2003 acquitted by the High court after the public prosecutor had dropped the charges against him.
the reason was that a German laboratory concluded that one of the prosecution’s strongest evidence at the time, a human hair found at the crime scene came from a woman.
Hotvedt was awarded compensation from the State of half a million crowns and was a free man.
17 long fight: – the case has nearly destroyed the family
After the new and improved analysis techniques made sure the coroner last summer found Hotvedt DNA at Christina’s nails , however, he was arrested again.
When did Christina’s family since his acquittal fought for the police to resume the case and continue to investigate the case on his own.
– We did not go out in 2003 with the purpose of taking Hotvedt. That’s not what we were looking for, we were looking to take the perpetrator, says Roar Juel Johannessen.
– Now we lay aside the covers. Now there is nothing more to work with.
There is still sentencing. Christina’s family believes Hotvedt should receive a harsher punishment than he got when he was convicted of killing the first time.
– Yes. This he has gone and carried on for 17 years, said the father.
Hotvedt defender Brynjar Meling believes his side should be mitigating that it’s gone so many years since the murder.
those years have been an additional burden for those left behind, says Kristin’s father.
– We believe the long time that has passed, is aggravating, for this has worn on us. It has almost destroyed our family, so we think clearly there are aggravating.
Now the family can start looking ahead.
– This is a sudden sentence after 17 years. Now we need to stick together, says the father.
– We’re done with the legalities. Now we need to work a bit with ourselves, simply says Kristin Støre sister, Linda.
– Well that Kristin resolve the matter itself
One of the prosecution’s main evidence in case has been found by Hotvedt DNA, in the form of skin cells, at Christina’s nails.
They have not been in doubt about how Hotvedt skin cells have ended at Christina’s nails.
– Kristin tried removing the smothering her, namely the defendant’s hands, stated prosecutor Alf Martin Evensen in his argument yesterday.
How was it finally Kristin trips his killer, mean family.
– It’s kind of good that Kristin managed to solve this yourself, says Roar Juel Johannessen.
– she fought, she also says Linda.
Also prosecutor Evensen is happy outcome of the case.
– I think it is important for so many to get put an end to this matter which has been a sore spot for 17 years , he said.
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