Viggo Kristiansen receives NOK 55 million from the state

– We are not satisfied and think it is too low. It is significantly lower than what is required, and we are preparing a lawsuit for the difference, says Kristiansen’s lawyer Brynjar Meling to TV 2.

Kristiansen was acquitted in December 2022 following serving almost 21 years in prison as a result of an erroneous verdict in the Baneheia case. He was released on 1 June the following year.

After this, Kristiansen came up with a gigantic claim of NOK 90 million in compensation. Of the total claim, NOK 60 million was restitution compensation, writes Aftenposten. This means compensation for non-economic losses.

Starting point in previous judgement

Kristiansen’s lawyers have taken the Liland judgment from 1995 as their starting point, according to the newspaper. The Supreme Court then awarded damages of NOK 10 million.

While Liland was 40 when he was sentenced, Kristiansen was in his early 20s. Which suggests that Kristiansen’s compensation should be greater, Meling believes.

Kristiansen has already been paid NOK 10 million in compensation in advance.

However, the state’s civil rights administration has decided that he will receive NOK 55 million.

Advice on lawsuits

– We received the decision on 25 March and have not sought publicity regarding it as it is an assessment of whether a lawsuit should be brought, which we advise Kristiansen to do, says Meling to NTB.

– It is clear that when you have demanded 90 million, it is quite a big difference to get only 55 million, and we believe 90 million is the right amount to demand.

The decision on compensation was announced on Tuesday, the same day that the new Baneheia trial started in Sør-Rogaland district court in Sandnes.

The Baneheia case concerns Stine Sofie Sørstrønen (8) and Lena Sløgedal Paulsen (10), who were killed and raped on 19 May 2000 in Baneheia in Kristiansand.