Manshaus in interrogations by the police
Terror and murder indicted Philip Manshaus was questioned at the police house in Oslo on Friday afternoon.
The 21-year-old’s defence lawyer, Unni Fries, arrived at the police house at 4 pm on Friday, according to several media.
“I have no information to indicate that he has changed his stance on criminal culpability. I will not comment on whether he is linking himself to the acts,” Fries told the press, according to Aftenposten.
Manshaus said he was willing to explain himself on Thursday. Previously he has, as most know, refused to do so.
Fries refutes that his changed attitude is based on the fact that the police considered having him admitted to forced psychological health care.
“No, it’s not. My impression is that this is completely voluntary on his part. He wants to give an explanation. He is ready for it now,” Manshaus’ defence lawyer states, according to VG.
Manshaus is charged with terror and murder of his step-sister Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen (17). He was remanded in custody for four weeks on Monday, two of which in total isolation. In addition, he has both a media and letter and visitor ban. The 21-year-old does not acknowledge criminal culpability.
Acknowledges the facts of the case
The police have now ended the questioning of the defendant in the Bærum case.
“The defendant acknowledges the facts, but he has so far not formally addressed the criminal charges. His explanation has provided an important contribution to the further investigation,” police lawyer, Pål-Fredrik Hjort Kraby, writes in a press release.
Stepfather does not get a support lawyer
The father of murder and terror charged Philip Manshaus – the stepfather of the girl Manshaus is accused of killing – will not be provided with a support lawyer.
Asker and Bærum District Court have decided this – after lawyer Vibeke Hein Bære was requested to be appointed, Budstikka writes.
Philip Manshaus, 21, is charged with killing his 17-year-old step-sister, Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen, before heading to the Al-Noor Mosque in Bærum to commit what police believe is an act of terror. The mother has been appointed Elisabeth Hagen.
Asker and Bærum District Court have no doubt that the stepfather may need legal help in the extraordinary situation that has arisen, but that it is not sufficient:
“As a stepfather, he has no parental responsibility and is not bereft in the sense of the law. He does not fall within the wording of the law. The fact that he is, to some extent, close to the concept of the law is not sufficient for a lawyer to be appointed,” according to the .justification by the court.
We will not tolerate the hatred
Norwegian Minister of Culture, Trine Skei Grande (Liberals), expressed her support for the Islamic environment in the World Islamic Mission Mosque in Oslo.
Grande spoke to the congregation before the Friday prayer at the mosque, the first since the attack against the al-Noor mosque in Bærum on Saturday. The Minister of Culture was committed to conveying that Muslims in Norway should feel safe.
“The attack on the mosque was an attack on all of us. We stand together in the fight for respect and equality; Against hatred and extremism. Muslims in Norway should feel safe, in prayer and otherwise. I’m glad to see a people safeguarding the mosques, as we witnessed on Sunday,” Grande expressed.
The Minister of Culture has been clear that she is among those who want the government to start work on an action plan against Muslim hatred. At the mosque in Oslo, she said more powerful measures against Muslim hostility and better dialogue with Muslim communities are needed.
“The hatred we witnessed this weekend, which we have witnessed before, we will not tolerate. It, both must and should, not gain a foothold in our society,” Grande concluded.
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© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today