Acquitted (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - The Verdict - full transcript

This is a real case with real people.

Says the woman who wants to imprison
a father for killing his daughter.

Without a shred of evidence.
See you in court.

- I don't want to talk about it.
- She's your daughter.

I have explained it to Helene.
She seemed to understand.

I think you should go to her.
She needs you.

Everybody lies.
The question is who is best at lying.

Perhaps. But there is the truth.

William Hansteen, you're charged
with the murder of Karine Hansteen.

I saw the last strike.
How she fell against the rock.

Then I saw who it was. Aksel.



- Why haven't you come forward?
- Because he's my son.

I didn't mean for it to happen.

I fell pregnant.
And then I met your dad.

Why haven't you said anything?

That's just how it was back then.

Who's known about this?

William and I. And your dad.

Do we have any coffee?

Hey.

It's just a piece of paper.

It doesn't mean anything.

Well, it means
that you have a shitty father.

But so do I.

And we have a scatterbrained mother.



Right?

- Five days?
- Aksel Nilsen is innocent.

You have to give me
a chance to prove that.

My opponent seems to have forgotten
that Aksel Nilsen is not on trial.

He was accused of murder in court!

Haudemann has a point.
Nilsen is not on trial.

The defendant has made this into
a case about Nilsen's credibility.

If I can prove his innocence,
I also prove that Hansteen's lying.

And that's relevant. Right?

You want to prove Nilsen's innocence
to prove that my client's guilty?

Bloody hell. This is absurd.

It's one's word against another.
One of them is lying.

This case has divided two families
for more than 20 years.

One more week
will not make much difference.

You have three days.

You know how it is when a football
match goes into extra time. Brutal.

Thank you.

You'll have to testify
about the night of the murder.

Tonje Sandvik
has to confirm your alibi.

I was acquitted. Why can't they
just read the verdict from my trial?

- That's not how it works.
- It's been over 20 years.

You can prepare your testimony.
Read the court documents, interviews.

What if I refuse?

Then William will go free.

- Did you see it?
- See what?

That he killed her.
That he smashed her skull...

You don't need to go into details.

It's your fault.

It's your fault.

I did what I could for Aksel.

I paid child support
until he came of age.

- Just to shut me up.
- What difference would it have made?

I could have loved him.

I could have loved my son.

- So. Mai-Britt.
- Thank you.

I'm sorry.

What really happened
between the two of you?

Mai-Britt.

You have no right
to talk about her like that.

You have no idea
what she was like.

- What do you mean?
- At least I know her motives.

Perhaps you
should have chosen her instead.

Don't be stupid. Christ.

- Be careful.
- Bloody wheelchair. Push it yourself.

Eva.

She arrived at the party after ten.
The fire was out.

She seemed strange.
She didn't want to talk to me.

She just drank a lot of white wine.
She had a...

The fire was out. She seemed strange.
She didn't want to talk to me.

She just drank a lot of white wine.
She had a bag-in-box.

- Did she get drunk?
- Everyone got a bit drunk.

- We started arguing.
- About what?

I don't know, exactly.
Everything was wrong.

And then she broke up with me.

At that point, I went home to bed.

That was around 11:30 p.m.
No, I didn't look at my watch.

But the fire had died, so I remember
I thought it was around 11:30.

I only wanted to talk to her,
but I couldn't find her.

She was gone,
so I went home to bed.

I thought she was kidding.

I thought she was kidding.
She could be like that. Dramatic.

She ran into the forest.
I ran after her, but fell.

I lost sight of her,
so I went home to bed.

Suddenly she ran into the forest.
I thought she was kidding.

- She could be a bit dramatic.
- Witnesses say you yelled at her.

- Did you threaten her?
- No, I just wanted to talk to her.

But she was nowhere to be found,
so I went home to bed.

The police woke me up the next day.

I didn't know what
I was suspected of doing.

It took over 24 hours
before I realised she was dead.

Thank you. I have nothing further.

Haudemann, go ahead.

Thank you. At what time
did you and Karine leave the beach?

- Around 11:30 p.m.
- Did you check your watch?

No. But the fire had just died out,

and I've been told that
that was around 11:30.

Right. Can you please explain
to the court how you got home?

I went through the woods to the field
by the new housing development.

- Past Rasmus Sunde's house?
- Yes.

- You're certain of this?
- Yes.

Apologies for the nitpicking,
but do you actually remember this?

Or is this
something you've been told?

- I remember it.
- It's hard to remember details

that far back in time.

It was a night
that was hard to forget.

But you didn't know that at the time.

- What?
- That it was an unforgettable night.

You didn't know that at the time.

- I remember it.
- Then we leave it at that. Thank you.

- Thank you.
- The witness may step down.

Then I'd like to call
a new witness to the stand.

- This is news to me.
- I apologise. I haven't had time

to update the witness lists.

You're pushing it, Haudemann,
but I'll allow it.

Let's hope technology
is on our side today.

Do you mind telling us
who the witness is?

Let's see if we can call...

- Haudemann?
- Malaysia.

Angeline Borgen,
president of the court.

My next witness
is Aksel Nilsen's wife.

You may strike the last part
from the record.

- Don't let this get to you.
- Not now.

Is she telling the truth?

You can't remember?

- I should have told you.
- Yes, you should have.

I didn't want you to know.

It's just...

The fact that I...
I was afraid you'd...

I needed someone to believe in me.

Is there anything else
you haven't told me?

Aksel.

Tonje Sandvik and I
were in a relationship.

- Back then?
- Yes. And now.

Or, not any more.
But up until recently.

And after we broke up
and she was hurt,

she told me
that she had not seen me after all.

She didn't see you?

I think it was just something
she said to get back at me.

Haudemann will rip her to pieces.

Can you remove her
from the witness list?

No.

Do you still think
that Aksel will save Lifjord?

He has no credibility
in this village.

He worked abroad for 20 years.
He knows the finance world.

I understand that you're friends,
or whatever you call it,

but this will only
create problems, Tonje.

Marianne had to close
the beauty parlour too.

For being so smart,
you're bloody thick.

- Hello. You're already up?
- Inger has left her glasses.

- Why didn't you tell me?
- We're just on a break.

- She'll be back.
- That Tim and I are related.

I didn't know.
Maybe I should have known, but...

Then what was it? Why were you
so angry about Tim all the time?

I don't know.

It's a bit difficult to explain.

You said you never wanted
to see me again.

I didn't say that.
Did I really say that?

You were probably drunk.

Hi.

Is it true? You don't remember?

Yes. But you saw me.

You told the truth
on the witness stand back then.

Nobody can lie like that.

Yes.

You saw me under the reconstruction.

I wanted to see you.
I wanted it to be true.

Why?

I have work to do.

When testifying,
it's important to tell the truth

and express your doubt
if you're not certain.

Do you swear to tell the truth
and nothing but the truth?

Please repeat after me:
"I solemnly swear."

I solemnly swear.

- Sahir?
- Thank you.

You were a central witness
at Aksel Nilsen's trial.

You gave him an alibi.
Is that correct?

- Yes.
- Please speak a little louder.

- Yes.
- I'm going to read a passage

from your testimony back then.

"I didn't go to the party.
I was at Rasmus' house."

"We were sort of together.
I planned to spend the night."

She refers to Rasmus Sunde,
the current mayor of Lifjord.

"Rasmus fell asleep afterwards.
I couldn't sleep."

"I thought I'd go to the party
after all. It was only 11:30."

"I got out of bed and saw Aksel
running past the house."

The time is conclusive. This alibi
proves Aksel Nilsen's innocence.

Tonje Sandvik, you saw Aksel Nilsen
pass Rasmus Sunde's house

three kilometers away from the scene
of the crime, at 11:30 p.m.,

which was the time of death,
according to forensic experts.

Can you confirm this to the court?

Can you please confirm this
to the court?

Yes. Yes, I can.

- I saw him.
- Thank you.

Haudemann, the witness is yours.

You waited a long time to come
forward and give him an alibi.

A whole year, according to my notes.

- I was ashamed.
- Due to the affair with the mayor?

Yes. He wasn't mayor back then.
He was our handball coach.

Let's not bore
the court with details.

- He's harassing my witness.
- Get to the point, Haudemann.

You and Aksel Nilsen

were an item back then,
before he and Karine got together.

- For a while, yes.
- But then he dumped you for her.

- Yes, you could say that.
- How did you feel?

- He broke my heart.
- You were really heartbroken,

- the way only 17-year-olds can be.
- This is irrelevant.

I'll allow it, but Haudemann,
you better get to the point.

My point is that love
between 17-year-olds is intense.

I'm questioning whether Sandvik
could have lied under oath

- to save the love of her life.
- These are speculations.

I agree.
Get back on track, Haudemann.

Sandvik, may I remind you
that you're under oath.

Were you still in love with Nilsen
when you gave him the alibi in court?

- No.
- Pardon, can you please repeat that?

No. I was not in love.

I was where I said I was,
and I saw what I saw.

No matter what people say about
Aksel, his character or memory,

Aksel didn't kill Karine.

Fine. I have nothing further.

Witnesses lying in court
are usually not your thing.

- I've talked to people.
- People say a lot of things.

- Let's see what his brother will say.
- Erik?

I too can play hardball.

Inger.

- I've been an idiot. You were right.
- Please go home.

I'll pull myself together.
No more alcohol.

Not so loud. Please.

I have to make mum and dad understand
that you and Helene are my priority.

We can move. That was your idea.

I know, but I don't have
the strength to try any more.

You have to, Inger.
I can't make it without you. I can't.

Inger, please.

I'm nothing without you.

No. I'm nothing with you.

- Hi.
- Hi. Erik, can I please have a word?

You'll be called as a witness
by the defence.

Okay, so...

Okay, what am I supposed to do now?

I know that you haven't done it.
I know that Aksel's innocent.

The problem is that not long ago,
you thought Aksel was guilty.

You were so certain
that you reported him to the police.

I was wrong about that.

You'll have to convince the court.

Yes.

- Okay?
- Yes, of course.

- I just know it.
- You just know it?

Erik, this is your statement
to the police.

Can you please read it aloud?
From here, please.

- Here?
- Yes.

Okay.

"I saw Aksel outside, trying to wash
off blood with the garden hose."

"He was totally out of it. He cried
and said something about Karine."

"I asked him about it. He said
something terrible had happened."

We'll stop there. Thank you.

"Something terrible had happened."

That was because
he and Karine had broken up.

- Keep reading.
- Is that necessary?

My point is that
he's contradicting his statement.

If you want to make that point,
you should read it yourself.

I'd love to.

"When I heard
what had happened to Karine,"

"I immediately knew
that he had done it."

- That's...
- Thank you.

No further questions.

- Sahir?
- Thank you.

How does it feel
reading this statement today?

How are the witness' feelings
relevant to the court?

Go ahead and answer.

- I feel horrible.
- Why is that?

Because Aksel's innocent.
I know that now.

What made you change your mind?

We found the tshirt. At that time,
Aksel thought he had done it,

so he was ready to go to the police
and confess to everything.

For his own peace of mind.
But it wasn't Karine's blood.

It was his own blood.
He had fallen and injured himself.

Aksel would have taken
his punishment. He's not a liar.

I don't know how to put it,
but he's brave. Yes.

- Thank you.
- Great.

President of the court,
may I ask two more questions?

Yes, that's fine.

For 20 years, you firmly believed
that your brother had killed Karine.

- But that's...
- What has changed since then?

Apart from the fact
that you think he's brave.

- We found the t-shirt.
- We're done with that.

Tonje gave him an alibi.

She did that 20 years ago too.
You must have thought she lied.

- Yes.
- How do you know she's not lying now?

- I just know.
- You keep saying that, but do you?

Are you really that certain?
Or do you deep down have doubts?

- These are speculations!
- I withdraw my statement.

But we can all agree that none
of what we heard today and earlier

gives you any reason to believe him.

- He's my brother and I know him.
- Exactly.

Did you just decide to believe in him
in order to defend him?

Yes, of course I want to defend him.

What?

- What do you mean?
- Erik, you're saying you have doubts.

- No.
- No further questions. Thank you.

The witness may step down.

Okay.

I made a fool of myself.

Hey. That lawyer guy is a douche.

- Douche?
- Yes.

- You can't say douche.
- Well, he was.

See ya.

Can I hitch a ride with you?

- Where to?
- I don't want to go home.

Me neither.

- What are you thinking?
- I don't know.

Haudemann thinks you'll win.

Don't you mean "we"?

Yes, of course.

We're looking forward
to be done with this.

It's been a nightmare
for my client and his family.

Now it's showdown, people.
Hi there, Nilsen.

Aksel Nilsen, what are
your thoughts before the verdict?

What do you think
of the development so far?

You take pleasure in this.

You feel too much.
That's your problem.

Yeah? Or is it
that you have no feelings at all?

Can I get a comment?

Haudemann?
Haudemann, go ahead.

Thank you.

There are a lot of feelings
in this room today. No wonder.

A young, beautiful girl
was taken from this world.

She was supposed to graduate from
sixth form. She had artistic talent.

A happy, high-spirited girl
with dreams and plans for the future.

Her parents
will never get over their loss.

There are bound to be feelings
when something like this happens.

Negative feelings.
Apportioning of blame.

That's a human response.

Natural.

But those who administer the law
should not be swayed by feelings.

Our job is to uncover the facts.

A man, a social developer,
a father stands on trial,

accused of killing his own child.

It's even more grave that we,
in the course of the last few days,

have seen that the whole trial
and the prosecution's grounds

for throwing monstrous allegations
against this family

are based on just that. Feelings.

This is an injustice, and we have to
ask ourselves how this could happen.

The answer is that the administrator
of the law, the prosecutor,

chose to bring in
a completely groundless indictment.

A host of witnesses
have taken the stand,

but not a single one has managed
to produce any evidence

that proves that William Hansteen
killed his own daughter.

We have a former suspect
who shows a lot of emotion.

His brother takes the witness stand
and shows a lot of emotion.

His former girlfriend
shows a lot of emotion.

Even the police's testimony
is pure emotionalism.

It's easy to get overwhelmed
by all this emotion.

But as far as evidence is concerned,
there's not a single piece of proof.

And that, honourable court, is the
only indisputable fact in this case.

Aksel Nilsen has accused
William Hansteen of murder.

And what has Hansteen
really done to him?

Apart from giving him life.

We've heard how Hansteen followed
Aksel Nilsen through his childhood.

How he always protected him.

He even chose to protect him
after his daughter was killed.

He tried to do the right thing
in an impossible situation.

He fought for his family
on several fronts.

An impossible fight
with impossible choices.

We may disagree with his choices.
Even criticise him.

But William Hansteen is no killer.

William Hansteen
is merely a distraught father.

And now it's time to let him
have some peace of mind.

Thank you.

- Sahir, go ahead.
- Thank you.

For having so much against emotions,

Haudemann is very good
at playing on your heartstrings.

I'll save you
from any more emotionalism.

Honourable court,
let me sum up the facts.

We have a father who demonstrably
lied about his whereabouts

on the night of
his own daughter's murder.

A father who, no matter whose
explanation we choose to believe in,

was present at the murder scene.

And he's chosen
to keep silent about it.

We've also proven
that the Child Welfare Service

filed a note of concern
about Karine Hansteen.

The case was dropped
after coercion from the defendant.

We have a criminal investigator
who has admitted to the court

that he withheld important info
about an emergency phone call.

A call for help only two hours
before she met her death.

We also have
Eva Hansteen's utterances

right after
the defendant's suicide attempt.

She confirmed without doubt
that he had confessed to the murder.

I ask the court to note that Nilsen's
allegations don't stand alone.

They are well substantiated.

I have proved beyond reasonable doubt
that Hansteen killed his daughter

on 25th June, 1995.

We have a man who,
when facing proven facts,

chose to unjustly accuse
Aksel Nilsen, his own son, of murder.

If there's anyone who's played on
people's heartstrings in this case,

it's my opponent.

Aksel Nilsen is not
the one who's on trial in this case.

He was acquitted in 1995. His alibi
was confirmed back then, too.

Aksel Nilsen couldn't have killed
Karine Hansteen.

Still he has to listen to
the same allegations all over again.

He's been put in the pillory
for a crime he hasn't committed.

20 years ago,
he was chased out of the village.

He himself has pursued
only two things: truth and justice.

Who wouldn't have done
the same in his shoes?

It's true that administrators
of the law should pursue objectivity.

But we should first and foremost
act as a safeguard against injustice.

The injustice against Aksel Nilsen
must be corrected.

William Hansteen
must be held accountable.

For the sake of the village.

For the sake of Aksel Nilsen.

But most of all
for the sake of Karine Hansteen.

Let her finally rest in peace.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Eva.

If I get convicted, maybe it'll be
a good thing for us all.

I've thought about it.

Several times.

Especially when you were in hospital.

How it would be to live without you.

But I can't even imagine it.

I can't imagine a life without you.

Do you get that?

Eva. My Eva.

It'll be all right.

What you said...
Do you really believe it?

The verdict is ready.

The court is in order.
Please have a seat.

For obvious reasons,
the defendant may stay seated

during the reading of the verdict.

Very well. In criminal case 235,
in which William Hansteen stands

trial for voluntary manslaughter
pursuant to Penal Code section 275,

the court finds the defendant...

not guilty.

Subtitled by
Ann Cathrin Valle Bjelkåsen