Nawid Bayan has been charged with the murder of Maren Sømme. His defence counsel, Arvid Sjødin, is asking the Supreme Court to release Bayan from pre-trial detention after being granted access to the preliminary autopsy report.
“The autopsy report strengthens my client’s case,” Bayan’s defence lawyer, Arvid Sjødin, told Jærbladet.
The Afghan national Bayan is suspected of and charged with the murder of his former girlfriend, Maren Sømme. Just ten days before Sømme died in hospital on Monday, 27 July, Bayan was reported to the police for another violent incident involving his girlfriend.
Afghan refugee Nawid Bayan charged with murder of Norwegian girlfriend
The day before she died, Sømme was found at home with serious injuries. However, Bayan denies having subjected the murder victim to violence.
“I am bound by confidentiality regarding the autopsy report. However, I believe it strengthens my client’s case. It nevertheless has weaknesses, as it has not examined alternative explanations for her condition,” Sjødin said.
Sjødin wrote what he describes as a commentary to the healthcare services and the police on the matter over the weekend.
“I have also submitted a request to the Supreme Court to release my client.”
Police Prosecutor Fredrik Martin Soma said in a press release that he did not wish to comment on what the autopsy report shows.
“We cannot comment on the findings made in connection with these examinations, as key investigative steps remain to be carried out.”
Jærbladet asked the police whether they agreed that the autopsy report strengthens Nawid Bayan’s case. In an email, Police Prosecutor Unni Byberg Malmin replied:
“For reasons relating to the ongoing investigation, the police cannot comment on the findings of the autopsy.”