Man sentenced to one year in prison for stabbing pedestrian in Oslo self-defense claim rejected

A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to one year in prison after admitting to stabbing another man in his twenties but denying criminal liability. He claims he acted in self-defense to protect his girlfriend; however, the court did not accept his defense.

The incident occurred on a busy Sunday evening on Bogstadveien in Oslo. As the victim was crossing a pedestrian crosswalk, he encountered a couple on electric scooters. The pedestrian confronted the male scooter rider about staring at him. What began as a verbal exchange quickly escalated into a physical altercation.

After the woman on the scooter collided with the pedestrian, he approached her, and following an exchange of blows, the male scooter rider charged at him. He used a 30-centimeter knife to stab the pedestrian in the thigh. Multiple witnesses saw the event unfold, and the couple fled the scene on their scooters. The victim fell to the ground with a five-centimeter wide wound and was subsequently hospitalized, requiring a blood transfusion.

The Oslo District Court considered video evidence and took several factors into account when determining the sentence, including the potential severity of the injuries and the public nature of the attack in a crowded area. Moreover, the use of a large knife in a public space was considered a serious offense.

In mitigation, the court acknowledged delays in the case and the victim’s role in initiating the conflict. Ultimately, the court deemed a one-year prison sentence appropriate. The defendant accepted the ruling and will not appeal, expressing satisfaction with the outcome given the prosecutor’s recommendation for a longer sentence.