A man who wildly stabbed fellow passengers on board an Oslo tram three years ago is now seeking compensation from the state. He claims he never should have been released from psychiatric care just days before he went amok, and his victim’s own mother agrees.

The stabbing spree in Oslo shocked police and witnesses. PHOTO: Heiko Junge/ SCANPIX Police later displayed the knife used by the assailant. PHOTO: Jarl Fr. Erichsen/SCANPIX

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Killer will be caught – 04.08.2004

Stabbing spree stuns Oslo – 03.08.2004

The man, an immigrant from Somalia in his 40s, killed one of the passengers and wounded four others in the bloody attack on board the #17 tram as it rolled by Bislett Stadium on an August afternoon in 2004.

He had been sitting quietly on the tram when he suddenly pulled out a large knife, which he’d just bought in downtown Oslo, and started slashing at everyone around him. The shocked driver of the tram brought it to a halt and frantically called for assistance.

By the time it arrived, the man had fled, hijacking the car of a passing motorist. One of his victims, a 23-year-old man who didn’t hear the uproar around him because he was deaf, was stabbed to death.

The assailant was eventually captured later that day and has been committed to psychiatric care ever since. Newspaper VG reported Friday that he now claims the state is liable for turning him into a killer because he didn’t receive the care he needed at the time.

His attorney wouldn’t elaborate on the case, nor would the organization that promotes patients’ rights in Norway.

State health authorities earlier criticized a doctor at Ullevål University Hospital for releasing the man from acute care without having a plan to follow up his treatment. An intern on duty had actually handled the release, but the doctor was viewed as being responsible.

Support from victim’s mother
The victim’s mother, Karin Mjåland, told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Friday that she understands why her son’s killer is seeking compensation.

“I understand that he needs a confirmation (that the stabbings weren’t entirely his fault) to get on with his life,” she told NRK. “Living with the knowledge that you’ve killed someone and injured four others, must be terrible.”

She and her family have also blamed Ullevål Hospital for the death of her son. “We feel they’re responsible for the loss of our son,” she said.

By Nina Berglund

Lifted and published by Korir, API*APN africanpress@chello.no tel             +47 932 99 739        or             +47 6300 2525        source.aftenposteneng

Police have been using specially trained dogs in their ongoing search for a young Vietnamese woman brought to the Bergen area as the bride of a Norwegian man. Police think she’s been murdered, and were holding her husband, his brother and his parents over the weekend.

Dung Tran Larsen (left) had hoped for a better life in Norway. Now the young Vietnamese woman who came to Bergen as a bride is missing and feared dead. PHOTO: PRIVAT Thi Phuong Dung Tran Larsen hasn’t been seen since July 14. PHOTO: POLITIET

Police later won court permission to incarcerate both the husband and mother-in-law of Dung Tran Larsen, age 22, who hasn’t been seen since July 14.

Dung and her cousin both came to Norway as the brides of two Norwegian brothers from Loddefjord in Bergen. The young women were hoping for a better life in Norway, but reality didn’t match expectations.

Dung’s home became a small basement apartment in the home of her husband’s parents. Witnesses say her mother-in-law was the “boss” of the family, and that relations were strained.

Dung, who acquaintances say maintained a cheerful appearance, also confided that she felt trapped in the house, and that her freedom was restricted. She had her first child within a year of arrival in Norway and gave birth to the couple’s second child in June.

Her husband reported her missing on July 20, and police mounted a massive search. Their investigation later raised suspicions that her family knew more than they were telling. Her cousin was reportedly threatened by the husband’s brother while she was undergoing police questioning.

Dogs trained to search for human remains reportedly reacted to at least one site as they went through the family’s home and car last week. The four family members held over the weekend are all charged in the case, with her husband charged with murder. His father and brother were released, but his mother also remained in remand custody.

By Nina Berglund

Lifted and published by Korir, API*APN africanpress@chello.no tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525 source.aftenposteneng

 By Samuel Otieno

Retired President Moi has asked Kanu branches to meet and replace party officials who are in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

And he announced that he would soon tour the country to consolidate Kanu ahead of the General Election. Moi said he would campaign against ODM, the party Kanu secretary-general, Mr William Ruto, wants to clinch its ticket for the presidency.

Moi was speaking in Eldoret after a closed-door meeting with Agriculture minister, Mr Kipruto arap Kirwa.

“As a former President, I will not sit and see these people (ODM) polarising this country through politics of tribalism,” he said.

The former Head of State told Kanu branch officials from 14 Rift Valley districts who met in Eldoret to replace those who “had defected to ODM”.

“Prevail upon them to come back to their house. If they refuse, you have no choice but to replace them,” Moi said.

 

Moi to soon name his preferred candidate

The retired President said ODM had hijacked Kenyans by falsely pretending that they would use the movement to champion a new Constitution.

“Before you knew it, they had transformed ODM into a party and forgot all about the Constitution. Are these people you can trust?” he posed.

Moi said that since ODM became a party, all that its party leaders had been doing was to brainwash Kenyans with empty talk.

Moi reiterated that he would soon name his preferred presidential candidate and asked Kanu members to support his choice. He further mandated Keiyo South MP, Mr Nicholas Biwott, to spearhead Kalenjin unity in Kanu.

Moi spoke at Kenmosa Village in Eldoret, barely a kilometre from Poa Place, the venue where Kanu chairman Mr Uhuru Kenyatta was meeting Kanu officials and aspirants from outside Rift Valley.

Coincidentally, it was at Poa Place, a recreational centre a kilometre from Eldoret town, where some Rift Valley elders met and endorsed ODM as the province�s choice a week ago.

 

 

Leaders lashed out at Ruto and Raila

 

 

It was at Kenmosa that Moi held talks with Kirwa, together with Biwott, Bomet MP Mr Nick Salat, Mr Jimmy Choge (Aldai), former Nominated MP Mr Ezekiel Barng�etuny and former Maendeleo Ya Wanawake chairperson Mrs Zipporah Kittony.

Kirwa left immediately after the three-hour meeting, while Moi and the other leaders proceeded to meet the Rift Valley Kanu local leaders.

The local leaders, who spoke ahead of Moi, lashed out at Ruto and Lang�ata MP, Mr Raila Odinga.

Former Nakuru Kanu branch chairman, Mr Wilson Leitich, led the pack by dismissing the alliance between Ruto and Raila.

“Nowadays, this man (Raila) thinks he owns Rift Valley through our son (Ruto). He should know that Rift Valley has not yet decided who to back for the presidency,” he said.

Other MPs at the meeting were Mr Paul Sang (Bureti) and Anthony Kimetto (Sotik).

Keiyo North MP, Mr Lucas Chepkittony, an ardent ODM supporter, made a surprise entry into the meeting just as Moi was concluding his speech.

Led by Biwott, the MPs said Kenyans would be in for surprises when politicians, especially in Rift Valley repositioned themselves in readiness for the December polls.

“You will be surprised who will be in Government come next year. Those who are not with us should hurry and do so before it is too late,” said Biwott.

By Vincent Bartoo

Lifted and published by Korir, API, source.standard.ke