Norway's Hordaland District Court has convicted Vahid Heydari Mohammadi (35) for the murder of his former partner, Tina Milena Solberg (33). The court found him guilty on all charges, including murder, desecration of a corpse, and child abuse related to their two children. The verdict brings a legal conclusion to a case that began with the discovery of Solberg’s remains in a burned-out car in Øygarden outside Bergen on January 7, 2024.
A Confession in the Aftermath
Mohammadi confessed to the killing on the same day the crime was discovered. In police interviews, he explained how he strangled Tina Solberg to death in one of their children’s bedrooms. The couple’s two children were present in the home at the time. Following the killing, Mohammadi placed Solberg’s body in the trunk of his car, drove to a location in Øygarden, and set the vehicle on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.
The court’s proceedings focused not on establishing guilt for the homicide, which was admitted, but on determining the full extent of the crimes and the appropriate sentence. The prosecution argued that the act of killing the children’s mother in their home, in a room they associated with safety, constituted a severe form of abuse against them. Mohammadi denied the child abuse charges, but the court did not find his denial credible.
The Charges and the Court’s Findings
Judge Johan Eggen delivered the verdict in a courtroom where several of Tina Solberg’s relatives were in tears. The court found the evidence supported convictions on four primary counts. Under Norway’s Penal Code §275, Mohammadi was convicted for murder, having killed Solberg between 7:00 and 8:00 AM on January 7. For placing her body in the car and setting it alight, he was convicted under §195 for desecration of a corpse, a charge he acknowledged.
The conviction under §282b for the abuse of a descendant was significant. The court agreed with prosecutors that the children were victims, having witnessed parts of the lethal attack and its lead-up. The ruling implies the court accepted arguments that they had also been subjected to years of physical and psychological violence from their father. A further conviction under §268 for unlawful entry into a cabin after the murder was also handed down.
The Impact on the Children and Family
The case underscores the profound trauma inflicted on children who witness intimate partner violence. The two-year period between Solberg’s death and the final verdict represents a long wait for justice for her family, who have had to endure detailed courtroom discussions of her final moments. The fact that the violence occurred within the family home, a place meant to be secure, adds a layer of profound betrayal to the tragedy.
Legal experts often note that cases involving child witnesses to domestic homicide are among the most complex, requiring careful handling by both the justice system and child welfare services. The court’s decision to uphold the child abuse charges highlights a recognition of the psychological violence inherent in making a child witness an attack on their other parent. The children’s long-term welfare will likely involve extensive support from Norway’s child protection services.
A Look at Legal Procedures and Sentencing
With the guilty verdicts confirmed, the case will now move to the sentencing phase. Norwegian law allows for a maximum sentence of 21 years for murder, though time spent in custody before trial is typically deducted. The conviction on multiple serious charges, including the abuse of the children, is likely to influence the court’s assessment of the crime’s severity when determining the final sentence.
The case proceeded relatively quickly from crime to confession to trial, a fact attributable to Mohammadi’s immediate admission to the killing and destruction of evidence. However, the court’s task involved weighing the disputed charges of child abuse, requiring a careful evaluation of evidence beyond the defendant’s own statements. The unanimous verdict suggests the court found the prosecution’s evidence on these points compelling and credible.
A Community and a Family Seek Closure
For the local community in Øygarden and Bergen, the case is a grim reminder of the fatal potential of domestic conflict. Support services for victims of domestic violence in Norway often emphasize early intervention and safe exit strategies, but this case illustrates how extreme violence can erupt. The verdict provides a measure of accountability, but it cannot undo the loss experienced by Tina Solberg’s children, who have lost both parents—one to violence and the other to incarceration.
The finality of the court’s decision allows the legal process to conclude, but the journey of recovery for the surviving family members, especially the two children, continues. Their future, now permanently altered by the events of January 2024, depends on the care system’s ability to help them heal from a trauma that began in their own home. The case leaves a somber question in its wake: how does a society fully protect its most vulnerable from violence that hides behind closed doors?