TO BE SOLVED IN BERGEN
INVESTIGATORS TRAVEL FROM OSLO
Oslo (BA): Six experienced investigators from Oslo police headquarters traveled to Bergen last night to investigate the killing and the church burnings. — All the church arsons and the murder of Øystein Aarseth will be investigated thoroughly, promises head of criminal investigations Truls Fyhn at Oslo police headquarters.
/ By HAAKON BENN-SCHRØDER
"The reason we're traveling to Bergen lies in the material we've gathered investigating the church burnings," says Fyhn.
THE MURDER FIRST
"We will first and foremost investigate the murder," emphasizes police investigator Magne Eilertsen, who will lead the tactical investigation in Bergen.
"I don't want to speculate on how many leads we will need to follow up here in Bergen. It will depend on how the case unfolds locally, either in Bergen or elsewhere."
The Oslo investigators will spend some — perhaps most — of their time on the Norwegian church-arson cases, which they have already been working on.
The murder of Øystein Aarseth will therefore be handled hand in hand with the church-arson investigation.
IN EARNEST
"We believe the investigation into the murder can move forward in earnest now that criminal police chief Truls Fyhn has assigned the case top priority, we are told."
Criminal police chief Fyhn confirms that the murder is being given top priority in the case.
"We look over the legal groundwork and, if necessary, will remain here longer to assist the local investigation," he says.
"We will, wherever possible, assist by providing what is required in the case."
THREE CHURCHES
The man arrested is the same man suspected of the church burnings, namely "K." V. (25), who is also charged in connection with the church arsons that have shaken Norwegian society.
Police attorney Magne Eilertsen will comment on whether the man arrested for the murder is the same one being investigated in connection with the church arson case.
"It is too early to say," he says.
ARSONIST? According to what BA understands, the man from Trøndelag ["the Trønder"], who together with "the Count" («Greven») is charged with the murder of satanist Øystein Aarseth (25), has told police about church fires that "the Count" allegedly helped set.
THE TRØNDER TO BE MOVED OUT OF OSLO
Oslo (BA): Police will, in all likelihood, move the murder-charged Trønder to another prison in the Eastern Norway region.
That's according to police superintendent Sven T. Røer at Oslo police headquarters.
The past few days have been extremely tough on the Trønder, and he is terrified of running into "the Count" or facing threats from elsewhere. Even though both he and "the Count" are held in pre-trial detention under every possible restriction, police will move the Trønder anyway.
"It's not good that he and 'the Count' are held in the same prison," Røer tells BA.
IN EARNEST
"We have now seriously begun investigating the many church fires, as instructed by the Director of Public Prosecutions," emphasizes police chief Truls Fyhn.
Oslo's police chief cannot promise a full resolution, but says police will nonetheless get to the bottom of the case.
Sveinung Sponheim, who has taken over legal responsibility for leading the church-arson team, cannot yet say how long he and the investigative staff will remain in Bergen.
"We will be interviewing people in the circles around this 'Count.' We have no fixed timeframe to work to," Sponheim tells BA.
THREE CHURCHES
According to what BA understands, the Trønder — who together with "the Count" is charged with the murder of satanist Øystein Aarseth (25) — has told police about the church fires which "the Count" allegedly helped set. These are Fantoft stave church, Åsane church, and a third church where technical examinations had previously concluded the fire was caused by a lightning strike.
Police division head Magne Eilertsen will not comment on the third church fire the Trønder has given an account of.
"It's too early to say anything about that case," he says.
TO BERGEN: Six investigators from Oslo traveled last night from Oslo to Bergen. From left: Bærnt Vole, Jan Roar Kjølle, Knut Nysæter, Stian Elle, Sveinung Sponheim, and Magne Eilertsen. They will investigate the murder and the church fires. Photo: Stein Marenborg
CHECKED AGAINST THE LILLEHAMMER MURDER
Oslo (BA): "The Count" has once again come under scrutiny following the killing of Magne Andreassen, who was found murdered in Lillehammer a year ago. The murder was committed in the same brutal manner in which satanist Øystein Aarseth was killed.
"The modus operandi is the same, we can say that much. Both the killing here and the one in Oslo were carried out by inflicting a series of deep stab wounds on the victim," says police chief Håkon Johansen of the Gudbrandsdal police district, speaking to Bergensavisen.
"THE COUNT" OF INTEREST
Earlier this year, V. V. claimed in an interview that he knew who had killed Andreassen back in August of last year. "The Count" has been questioned, but so far the murder remains a mystery.
The satanist murder in Oslo on the night of 10 August has, however, breathed new life into the Lillehammer case. Police chief Håkon Johansen confirms that "the Count" is once again of interest.
"Later this week we will meet with the investigative leadership at Oslo police headquarters. We'll go through the details of the recent murder case in which 'the Count' is charged, and see what others have stated — that's of interest to us," says Johansen.
STABBED TO DEATH
Magne Andreassen was found killed in the woods just outside Lillehammer town center on 24 August — exactly one year ago today.
Police are aware that "the Count" has contacts in the Olympic city [Lillehammer, host of the 1994 Winter Olympics]. (This section of the scan is partly garbled — it appears a man was charged with giving a false statement connected to the case.)
Kripos [Norway's national crime unit] has also been involved, and a very large number of people have been questioned in the case, so far without result.
He [an unnamed man] was arrested together with "the Count" and the suspected Trønder in the early hours of Friday last week. He was released after intense questioning, in which he admitted to giving "the Count" a false alibi.
LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE
Oslo (BA): The 21-year-old murder-charged Trønder searched yesterday, together with investigators from Oslo police headquarters, for the knife and clothing that "the Count" allegedly disposed of after the brutal murder of satanist Øystein Aarseth.
"We've been out driving around, had a bit of a look," confirms police inspector Leif A. Lier.
NO FINDS
But nothing of interest was found. The Trønder is having difficulty pinpointing the exact spot where the clothing and murder weapon are supposed to have been dumped.
FIRST STAGE
"You could say the first stage of the investigation is now over. Two people are in custody, but a great deal of investigative work still remains," says police inspector Leif A. Lier.
Very soon, the murder investigators will head out on a drive across the mountains — toward Bergen — hoping the Trønder will recognize the area and point out where important evidence may be hidden. According to the Trønder's account, both the clothing and the knife were heavily soaked in blood after the gruesome killing.
Physical evidence is at stake in his statement. The murder case against "the Count" and the Trønder would stand much stronger if technical evidence can be produced. A police source tells BA there are fears the Trønder may become so frightened that he retracts his statement.
Defense lawyer Olav Hestenes, who represents the Trønder, denies this is likely.
"He seems very credible and is not going to retract what he's told police under questioning. He seems to find it a relief to be able to talk about the murder," says Hestenes.