Norway's Hordaland District Court is set to deliver its verdict in a murder case after a father’s extraordinary plea to the confessed killer of his daughter. Kurt Solberg sent a letter, via his lawyer, to the man who admitted to killing 33-year-old Tina Milena Solberg. In it, he asks the defendant not to appeal the upcoming sentence. "Our family has a great wish that you accept the judgment that comes, no matter what," the letter states. "We do not want a new round in the court of appeal."
Kurt Solberg spoke about his decision before Wednesday’s scheduled ruling. "It was important for me to send the letter before the verdict comes," he said. "I hope that he takes it to heart."
The defendant, a 35-year-old man who came to Norway from Afghanistan as a minor, has confessed to most charges. He admits to killing Tina Solberg between 7:00 and 8:00 on January 7, 2024, confessing to police the same day. He also admits to placing her body in the trunk of his car, setting the vehicle on fire, breaking into a cabin after the killing, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Charges Laid Out
The public prosecutor has brought multiple charges under the Norwegian Penal Code. The core charge is murder. A second charge relates to the mistreatment of a corpse for moving and burning the body. A third, more complex charge is for the severe or repeated mistreatment of a relative in the direct descending line. This is based on the allegation that the couple’s two children witnessed parts of the lead-up and the murder itself, and were exposed to years of physical and psychological violence from their father.
The defendant does not acknowledge this particular charge of child abuse. However, he does admit to parts of the events the prosecution uses to base the charge upon. The final charges are for unlawful entry into a cabin and driving under the influence.
Prosecutor Kristine Herrebrøden believes the man’s own testimony is sufficient to find him guilty on all counts, including the child abuse charge he disputes. The court must now weigh these admissions against the legal definitions.
A Family's Wish for Closure
The letter from Kurt Solberg introduces a profound human element into the cold legal process. His request seeks to spare the family, including Tina’s two children, the ordeal of a prolonged appeal process. A new trial in the Court of Appeal would mean reliving the traumatic details, presenting witness testimony again, and delaying finality for years.
This kind of direct appeal from a victim’s family to a perpetrator is rare in Norwegian courtrooms. It underscores the family’s overwhelming desire to end the public legal chapter of their grief. Their focus is on healing and caring for the children left behind, not on the length of a prison sentence.
The defendant’s defense lawyer, Jørgen Riple, has acknowledged the letter. He stated it is a strong and weighty message that his client will consider. What weight it will carry in the defendant’s decision regarding a potential appeal remains to be seen. The legal right to appeal a verdict is fundamental, but the father’s plea presents a powerful moral appeal.
The Legal Road Ahead
The verdict, expected at noon on January 14, will conclude the district court proceedings. If found guilty, the defendant will receive a sentence. Norwegian law sets a minimum penalty for murder, but the court has discretion based on the circumstances. The admitted actions—drunken driving, corpse desecration, and unlawful entry—will factor into the overall sentencing.
Regardless of the verdict’s content, both sides have the right to appeal to the Borgarting Court of Appeal. The prosecution can appeal if they believe the sentence is too lenient or if an acquittal is granted on any charge. The defense can appeal if the sentence is deemed too harsh or if they wish to contest a guilty finding, particularly on the unacknowledged child abuse charge.
Kurt Solberg’s letter is an attempt to influence this next potential step. He is not asking for mercy in sentencing from the judges. He is asking the man who destroyed his family to accept the court’s judgment and, in doing so, give them a measure of peace.
The Weight of the Coming Days
Now, the court, the defendant, and a grieving family wait for the same clock to strike noon. The judges will deliver their findings on murder, on abuse, on desecration. The legal system will have its say. But in a quiet, devastating parallel track, a father’s handwritten request hangs in the balance. It asks for something the law cannot order: an act of conscience from the very person who showed none.
The children’s future, the family’s capacity to mourn, and the long shadow of January 7th all press down on this moment. The verdict will answer legal questions. The defendant’s subsequent choice—to appeal or to accept—will answer a human one. For Kurt Solberg, the latter may ultimately define their path toward an impossible new normal.