The criminal trial against Steinar Wangen began today in the Vestfold District Court in Tønsberg. The 55-year-old stands accused of murdering a Swedish woman in Trollhättan in early September 2024 by suffocating her with a pillow. Wangen, who is currently serving a sentence in Halden prison for a prior conviction related to assisted suicide, has entered a plea of not guilty to both the murder charge and the subsidiary charge of aiding in a suicide.
The prosecution alleges that Wangen traveled to the woman’s apartment where she had gathered a combination of alcohol, sleeping pills, morphine, and other medications. According to the indictment, Wangen remained in the apartment after the woman became unconscious from the substance mixture, eventually suffocating her. Prosecutor Peter André Johansen presented extensive digital evidence during his opening statement, including hundreds of messages exchanged between the two in the weeks leading up to the incident.
The evidence detailed communications in which Wangen provided instructions on which medications to use and how to craft a suicide note to avoid police scrutiny. In one exchange read in court, Wangen allegedly wrote, “I don’t care if I am a mass murderer, as long as those who die are happy with themselves and want to die.” Another message stated, “Yes, and it helps that I like to kill people,” in response to the woman’s question regarding whether he expected payment for the act.
Did You Know? In 1987, at the age of 15, Steinar Wangen was convicted for the murder of a seven-year-old girl in Moss and sentenced to ten years of “sikring,” a former Norwegian system for preventive detention.
Legal Implications and Proceedings
The prosecution has reserved the right to request preventive detention (forvaring), citing a high risk of future criminal acts. Wangen’s defense attorney, Gaute Nilsen, noted that his client has not yet taken a position on this request. The trial is scheduled to conclude on June 19, though legal proceedings against Wangen are ongoing elsewhere. he is also facing charges in Sweden for inciting suicide in four separate cases.
Heidi Reisvang, a lawyer representing the victim’s family, stated that the trial is an extremely demanding experience for the bereaved. While the family was not present in court for the opening, they are expected to provide testimony later in the proceedings. The prosecution also highlighted that the defendant had previously been under surveillance by journalists from the TV 2 series “Norge bak fasaden: Dødsenglene,” who had contacted him under a false identity, revealing his history of assisting individuals who wished to end their lives.
Expert Insight: The court faces a complex task in distinguishing between assisted suicide and murder in a legal context where the defendant simultaneously claims the act was not criminal while acknowledging the victim’s intent to die. The prosecution’s inclusion of evidence regarding the defendant’s state of mind and previous convictions suggests a strategy focused on establishing a pattern of behavior to justify a potential preventive detention sentence.
What Happens Next
Following the conclusion of the Tønsberg trial on June 19, the case may move into a new phase. Both the prosecution and the defense have indicated that an appeal is a possibility. To manage potential scheduling conflicts, the court has already pre-booked time for an appeal hearing from October 5 to October 24.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary charge against Steinar Wangen?
Wangen is charged with the murder of a Swedish woman in Trollhättan in September 2024. He is also subsidiarily charged with aiding in a suicide.
How does the defendant respond to the charges?
Wangen has pleaded not guilty to both the murder charge and the charge of aiding in a suicide. Through his defense counsel, he maintains that the actions described in the indictment are not punishable in Sweden.
Why is the prosecution considering preventive detention?
The prosecution is considering a request for preventive detention because they believe there is a significant risk that the defendant will commit further criminal acts.
How will the court balance the evidence of the victim’s stated intent to die against the prosecution’s claims of murder?
