Introduction:
The ground was frozen on this cold and cloudless november morning for the Sævik household when Vetle got out of bed on the day of the upcoming trial of the kidnapping and human trafficking case.
He already knew that his wife Oda was likely to face years in prison, as they had already discussed the possible outcomes inbetween themselves and their lawyer. That didn't stop him from feeling both dread and nervousness this morning.
His daughter and oldest child Edny woke up displeased at the cries of her younger brother Kolbjørn. If mom had been here, and not in a jail cell at the police station, she would likely already have been on the spot to pick him up and feed him, but as it was, Kolbjørn would have to wait while his father took care of Gøran, their latest addition to the family..
While Vetle was taking care of the young ones, Edny ate her breakfast and got ready for school alone. There was no pleasant chit-chat at the breakfast table with mom this morning...
And then it was off to school on the school bus.. Edny was ashamed that her mom was in jail, and hadn't told any of her friends at school about it, but as this was the major thing to be talked about around town, rumours were spreading.
As much as she tried to hide it, the kids at school had listened in on their parents talk at home, and had started to question and mock her about it.
«Where is you mom, Edny? Is she in jail?», «Are you going to be a thief like your mom?» and other worse questions and comments had began to be thrown around in the school yard.. Edny was not at all happy about going to school this morning, but she knew what her dad would say if he found out she had been skipping classes, so she still went...
Vetle had put on his finest suit to look as presentable as he could, before calling a babysitter to watch after Kolbjørn and Gøran while he was in court.
Then it was time to head out the door and get into his old trusted car and face the day.. driving to the town hall, as that was were the trial was set to be held.
This same morning in the Gudmestad-Kiinsmo household, on the same street as Gaute, Bodil and Leyas home, Sandra was getting out of bed to feed her and Roberts toddler son Mark, before heading to the same trial at the town hall...
Mark was born on the excact same date as Gaute and Leyas boy Orinder, and had just celebrated his first birthday... without his dad.. and sadly, would probably grow up not really knowing his dad outside the occasional visit to whatever prison he would end up in...
Sandra was doing her best to take care of the little boy, as she fed him and played with him, before calling a babysitter as well, and heading out the door for the taxi that would take her to town hall...
She didn't even own a car, and with Robert now going to prison for a still undertemined time, not only would Sandra and her boy suffer the loss of their spouse and father, but also his income. An income that had been very nice to have, even though it all was aquired through illegally exploiting other people...
When Vetle walked through the doors of the town hall, Sandra was already inside, as well as the crime book writer Agathi Flansbarne.
Agathi had been very curious about this case ever since she heard about it in the news, even risking being taken to the police station herself for trespassing on the crime scene, so it was only natural that she would also attend the trial, which was open to the public. Not only was she very curious, but perhaps more importantly, she was hoping to get inspiration for future crime novels, and so she sat there like a sponge, watching and listening intently to what everyone talked about, as they walked towards the courtroom... while pretending not to, of course.
Vetle and Sandra didn't know each other before the arrest of their spouses, but now they found themselves having one very crucial thing in common.. They exchanged a few words of politeness in the hallway, before entering the courtroom itself, where the future was set to be determined..
As they walked towards the courtroom, Agathi also got up and weaseled her way inbetween them. This was the grand moment she had been waiting for, and was very excited to watch this trial.
They all sat down in the spectators area in the far back right of the courtroom, and Vetle nervously closed his eyes as the trial was about to begin and the judge entered the room..
The trial:
The Bailiff, Anders Saleh, himself a family man with two children, introduced the court and the judge, and asked everyone to be seated. He was used to it as it was common procedure, though this case was something out of the ordinary, as most cases to be taken to the court was of a more trivial nature, such as mortgage foreclosures, disputes about property lines and so on.
R
egardless, as the judge, Sina Riise, took her seat and adressed the court, the room was noticeably laden with tension, as it usually would be with two opposing sides finally meeting in the same room, some dreading having to spend the rest of their life behind bars, others wanting to see the scoundrels locked up, and some again just doing their job or being called in for their civic duty as a juror.
Sina Riise (judge): Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of the People of the County of Hipnip Piles versus Robert, Oda, Ann-Kristin and Dina. Are both sides ready?
«Ready for the people, your honour» the district attorney Øystein Juell declared to the judge. The defendants anxiously paid attention as their defenders likewise stated their readiness. The judge then turned to the clerk, Vigdis Bjørseth, sitting on her right hand side to swear in the jury.
«Will the jury please stand and raise your right hand?» Vigdis said with a stern voice waiting for them to rise from their seats before continuing.
«Do each of you swear that you will fairly try the case before this court, and that you will return a true verdict according to the evidence and the instructions of the court, so help you, Narrator? Please say “I do”.»
The jurors, all stood up and repeated the words «I do», before sitting down. The grumpy old retired teacher, Agnar Bergersen (third from left) has always had a side interest in law and all things rigid, and along with Kari Slettemoen, the conductor of the choir «The Sirens» (last on right) and a commanding and strict woman in her own way, were probably the only ones of the jury that actually looked forward to the procedure.
The jurors took their seats as Øystein Juell, the district attorney, strolled across the floor to explain the charges to the jury. As all the defendants had the same or similar charges, and were undoubtetly part of the same crime (because they were all arrested on the same spot for one), they were facing a joint trial, yet their verdicts would be considered individually and in order, and Robert was the first one to be taken into the fire.
«Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: the defendant Robert has been charged with money laundering, kidnapping and human trafficking, including forced labour, child trafficking, child labour and procuring.» Øystein explained to the jury. A silent gasp was heard from the viewers bench and Robert looked away to the right. It was no surprise to Sandra at this point what her husband had been up to, but it still stung when it was spoken out loud like this for everyone to hear.
In the back row, Karen Granli, the journalist covering the case for the local tv-station had also showed up, and was eagerly taking notes from her position on the bench just behind Sandra as Øystein continued:
«The defendant was arrested on the scene of the crimes on the night of October 13th, and there are evidence and several witness observations to show that the defendant was not only involved in, but also the leader of an organization responsible for the aforementioned, and it will thus become clear that the defendant is guilty as charged.»
Roberts defender, Jørgen Fond, got up from his chair and adressed the court. «Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: under the law my client is presumed innocent of the charges until proven guilty.»
A muted grunt was heard from the spectators bench.
Of course, Jørgen knew very well that Robert was guilty in the practical sense, given that Robert was arrested on the scene with the victims present, as well as there being several items of evidence with fingerprints (weapons, illegal drugs found on the scene as well as evidence of complex financial transactions and audit trails).
Jørgens job of defending Robert was not an easy one, and this could quickly end up being a turning point in his career. He had learnt from history that any criminal defense attorney arguing the case of a guilty client was likely to face a certain amount of backlash from the public opinion. That didn't make his job any less important. Jørgen played the role as a servant and upholder of the justice system at large, first and foremost.
Judge Sina gave Jørgen a nod signalling that he could take his seat, before stating that the prosecution could call in the first witness.
Øystein the district attorney announced that they would call in Danica Tomren, one of the victims in the case, as the first witness. Danica wasn't to surprised that she would be one of the first witnesses, she had of course been there at the peat factory the whole time.. Robert had, of course not, confided much of anything to Danica and the others, but they had eyes and ears, so they knew quite a lot about what was going on. The bailiff went over to Danicas position and guided her across the floor to the witness booth.
Vigdis (clerk): Please stand. Raise your right hand. Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you Narrator?
Danica: I do.
Vigdis (clerk): Please state your first and last name.
Danica gives her first and last name.
Vigdis: You may be seated.
Øystein (DA): Danica, what is your relation to the accused?
Danica: He uh... he held us.. me... captive at the peat factory where we all had to work to sew clothes and umbrellas... and uh.. he.. he forced me to.. he made me a prostitute.. and none of us really got paid for it..
Danica looks down in shame thinking about the experience...
Øystein (DA): Were you allowed to leave the peat factory at any point?
Danica: Yes, kind of.. he would drive me to town on the evenings to.. to hang out by The Harbour Café to meet clients...
Øystein (DA): Why didn't you run away?
Danica: I had no place to run to, and he would threaten me with his gun if I did so much as to even think about it...
Øystein then held up a gun and showed it to the court, the judge and to Danica.
Øystein (DA): Was this the gun he threatened you with?
Danica looked at the gun, before answering. «Yes... yes, that was the one.. he.. he always kept it on him whenever he... he took me to the harbour..»
Øystein (DA): Thank you, I have no further questions.
Judge Sina: Does the defense have any questions?
Roberts defense lawyer Jørgen rose from his chair and walked up to Danica.
«Were there any witnesses to you being held at gunpoint?»
Danica: I... I don't know.. he never directly pointed the gun at me, and always kept it concealed when
we were out of the.. the car, but..
Jørgen: So nobody actually saw him threaten you with the gun?
Danica: That ...that could be true, but..
Jørgen: Is it possible then, that you went there willingly?
Danica: I... no, no I didn't.. I was afraid, I felt like I had no... no options..
Jørgen: Did Robert ever leave you alone at the harbor?
Danica: Y-yes, sometimes..
Jørgen: So you could have easily ran away?
Danica: I... I guess so..
Jørgen: I have no further questions.
Judge Sina then excused Danica from the witness stand, and the deputy then called up the café owner Eddie Opsal as a witness, and he told his version of the story, how he ended up in a feud with Robert over Danica hanging out outside his café, and how Robert had threatened to destroy his café and livelihood if he didn't oblige. Eddie said that Robert after this would frequently drop Danica off to hang out there at night.. he further stated he didn't want anything to do with it, and was afraid of the consequences if he reported it. Danica was once more called up as a witness, and she could confirm that Robert had indeed delivered such threats to Eddie.
Robert delivering threats to Eddie.
Repost of image from Chapter 6.3 - The girl by the Harbour Café..
Sina again turned to the defense, asking if they had any more question, and Jørgen once more went up to Danica. He asked her if there were any other witnesses to Roberts threats.
«Yes» she said «on that particular day.. it was such a fine spring day in early May. I had the night before made a promise to Ingolf.. one of the kids, that we would.. that we would take a trip to town to calm him down before we went to sleep.. and.. so he was there with us..»
Danica paused for a while.
«It was Ann-Kristin that dropped us off at the Harbour Park that day, I don't think she knew what plans Robert had.. none of us did, so it was fine by her.»
Danica and Robert sealing the deal at Eddies Café.
Repost of image from Chapter 6.3– The girl by the Harbour Café..
«I found it strange that he.. carried a baby with him on that day, but I suppose the baby was his. Anyway, Ingolf heard it all, and well, if you would ask him, I'm sure he would.. he would confirm it..»
Jørgen then did his best to sow doubt about Danicas testimony of the threats making it appear as she had made it up and argued that Ingolf could not be used as a realiable witness given that he was a minor and could have been persuaded by Danica to say whatever she told him to. The district attorney objected to Jørgens last claim on grounds of it being speculative, and showed a recording of Ingolf given his statement on screen. Judge Sina accepted the DA's objection, Jørgen had no further questions and Danica was finally excused from the witness booth.
The remaining adult victims Wendy, Ada and Eilif are called up in turn to give their testimonies.
Picture: Wendy Dalheim in the witness stand.
Their stories are similar; they were all illegally brought into the country and forced to work at the abandoned factory with no pay, alongside the four minors George, Elisa, Even and Ingolf. Robert had given orders that none of them, except Danica, were allowed to leave, and Danica was only allowed to leave whenever Robert ordered her out as her procurer.
George Alnuman witnessing, shown on screen.
The minors did not attend the court itself, but their testimonies when required, was shown on video to the court room.
Of the accused, all but Ann-Kristin had made use of their right to not testify at their own trial. Ann-Kristin was then called up to the stand. When questioned by the DA Ann-Kristin laid all the cards on the table.
She admitted to to having a role in keeping the victims captive, but also explained how she objected to keeping the children captive, something which Danica and the other adult victims confirmed.
«Dina would sometimes smuggle food into our shed at night, after Robert had said we would not be getting any» Danica explained in a later testimony. «She would also sometimes read bedtime stories for the children and comfort them when they were sad or upset.»
Ann-Kristins defense attorney standing to the left, arguing her case.
The defense attourneys were then called to present their case, bargaining for a reduction in sentence wherever they could. The case against the accused however, was compelling and the jury eventually found them guilty on several of the charges.
Robert and his defense. Jørgen Fond, as the judge began reading up the verdict.. Jørgen had done his best to move forward with the defense, but the case against Robert was very solid.
Verdict:
Sandra was unable to look up as she did her best to hold back the tears when the judge read up her husbands sentence...
Robert was found guilty on all of his charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison with possibillity of prolongation, which essentially means he could be in for life. He was also sentenced to pay 55 000 simoleons to each of the victims, including the children, as a compensation for loss of freedom, income or school attendance, as well as to pay for their citizenship applications.
Oda and her defense. Likewise for Oda, there wasn't much leeway to be found.
Vetle knew this was coming, but still felt a sense of shock as the judge read up the verdict on his wifes sentence. Oda was found guilty on all of her charges and was sentenced to 8 years in prison with possibility of prolongation.
Ann-Kristin and her defence. It was by some of the jurors considered somewhat extenuating how Ann-Kristin had shown care for the children when they were held captive, but it had little to no impact on her final sentence.
Dina and her defence.
Ann-Kristin and Dina was found guilty on all of their charges and each of them was sentenced to 6 years in prison, with possibility of prolongation. Both Ann-Kristin and Dina lived alone with no family, so they didn't leave any spouses or children behind.
With all the verdicts read, the case was now set and closed and the court was adjourned by the judge. Into the slammer they go!
They were all then transported to serve their sentence at The Sunset Valley Prison, and finally the Prison Warden Fredrik Holm-Fredriksen got some (new) prisoners in his prison. ;)
Robert socializing with the other inmates the way he knows best... by scaring them and discussing his next master plot, but the other inmates aren't interested in the new guys scheming, and reject him..
«When I get out of here, I plan to launch a satellite out into a far orbit around Simtopia* to jam and disable all communication satellites... divide and conquer! That will be the next step in my plan to take over the entire planet and become The Emperor of Evil...»
*Simtopia (or «The Simtopian planet») is the celestial body they live on.
Steven Øverbø, inmate in green sweater: That is the dumbest thing I have heard from a fish in a long while.. who are you, the evil twin brother of Schmelon Snusk or something? Get outta here...
Ann-Kristin is finding herself at home as best as she can, reading «Murder in Pleasantville» by the chess table...hopefully not as an inspiration for future deeds..
Oda, the second in command for Roberts operation, is flexing her muscles in front of one of the other female inmates, Kathraina Rydningen...
Prison can be a rough place, she has heard.. best to assert dominance right away... Katharina just stares at the newcomer, not particularly impressed...
«Better build some more muscle if I am to survive here» she thinks, and walks out into the courtyard to get a workout..
Dina decides to back up her friend by ridiculing Kathraina's green top..
Katharina: Calm down, calm down.. geez, what's up with you newcomers?
Katharina: Do that again and I'll take flight on your asses, both of you!
Then Dina turns to Ann-Kristin to lash out at her..
«If you weren't so stupid pointing your gun at them, we would never have gotten arrested! We should've bailed it out of there as soon as we heard the cops out there!»
Ann-Kristin: This is just as much your fault as it is mine! You were in on it just as much as I was, if not more!
Yeah, looks like the got off to a good start.... bickering already.. this could be some long six years behind locked doors for them...
The boys are a little more peaceful for now, having decided to settle whatever dispute they may have over a game of chess..
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