Steinar Wangen denies criminal guilt for murder in Trollhättan
Steinar Wangen appeared on Thursday in Tønsberg district court, charged with the murder of a woman in Sweden in autumn 2024. He denies criminal guilt.
Wangen in court: denies killing woman with pillow
Steinar Wangen appeared on Thursday in Tønsberg district court, charged with the murder of Malin in Trollhättan in Sweden in autumn 2024. After state prosecutor Peter Johansen read out the indictment, Wangen declared that he does not admit criminal guilt, according to NRK Norge.
Wangen arrived in the courtroom shortly after nine o'clock, wearing a blue denim shirt and with glasses on his head. The day before, he had appeared for a court hearing on four separate cases of alleged incitement to suicide, also in Sweden.
Two central questions
State prosecutor Johansen pointed to two core questions in the case: whether Wangen should be convicted of murder or complicity in suicide – or acquitted – and whether a pillow was used at the moment of death.
The indictment states that Wangen suffocated Malin with a pillow. The autopsy, however, showed no signs that death was caused by another person. The police eventually gained access to one pillow from Malin's flat, but found neither DNA from Wangen nor any other traces on it.
Two forensic medical experts have previously stated to NRK that the use of a pillow can be very difficult to detect in an autopsy.
If the court finds no grounds for the murder charge, the state prosecutor wants Wangen convicted of complicity in suicide. The conversation between Wangen and Malin, the advice he gave her and the sending of medication to her took place, in the view of the prosecution, in Tønsberg – and is therefore subject to Norwegian criminal law. Complicity in suicide is punishable in Norway but not in Sweden.
Possible detention
Johansen stated that the prosecution may seek detention of Wangen.
– One of the central questions is whether there is a danger of reoffending – whether there is a risk that Wangen could do this again, said Johansen.
Two expert witnesses are following the proceedings closely: consultant and specialist Rita Lyngved and clinical psychologist Nina Haakestad Lervold-Skogstad. Their task includes assessing the risk that Wangen commits new, similar criminal acts.
The defence will await the testimony
Wangen's defence counsel are solicitors Gaute Nilsen and Tor Magus Fagermo. Nilsen was unwilling to comment on why his client denies criminal guilt.
– He will give testimony when the court begins, and then we can come back to what he explains, said Nilsen to NRK Thursday morning.
When asked about motive, state prosecutor Johansen replied that the question would be a topic during the evidence presentation, but that it could involve several different motives.
– It is something I shall not go into very much yet, but you should not rule out that there may perhaps be different and multiple motives, said Johansen to NRK before the court was convened.
Relief and fear in the family
Malin's family is represented by victim's advocate Heidi Reisvang and Ida Andenæs at Elden law firm. Reisvang describes the family's reaction as twofold.
– They dread meeting the accused in this case. It is a case concerning a person they were very fond of, who unfortunately lost their life, which they believe the accused is responsible for, said Reisvang to NRK.
At the same time, it is a relief for the family that the case is now finally coming before the court, she emphasises.
Wangen describes himself as a political activist. He has not consented to being photographed in court, but recently gave an interview to NRK in Halden prison.
Source: NRK Norge