- The name was not foreign for us

It is a tremendous relief to see that we failed to find evidence for the last time, it has been clear now. Previously we were unable to get to a full DNA profile. But technological development has made it possible to get proof that you failed in the past.

It says the former police sergeant in Salangen, Nils Johan Mikalsen. Page 15. July in 1998 he worked with to attempt to reveal who was behind the murder of Marie-Louise Bendiktsen (59) in Sjøvegan, Troms, norway.

When his retirement eight years ago was drapsgåten still not resolved. But on Thursday this week, more than 20 years after the murder of Bendiktsen, came the indictment against a 38 year old man.

Even is Mikalsen is currently on vacation in Thailand. From the "land of smiles", he followed the media coverage, when the news of the indictment cracked.

< p> the Man indicted for the murder of Marie-Louise Bendiktsen (59) in 1998, 4000 DNA samples

A team in the Troms police districts and Kripos' Cold Case-the group worked intensively with Sjøvegan case since the summer of 2017, and finally, it was rettsgenetikerne at Oslo university hospital who managed to framdyrke a full DNA profile of the findings from 1998. The profile matched the defendant 38-year-old from Sri Lanka.

the DNA sample is taken of the now accused man, is just one of nearly 4000 samples were taken in connection with the investigation since 1998.

The work that was done by us at the time, is the basis. The technological development has made it possible to take the step further, " says Mikalsen.

Was the man who now is accused ever suspected by the police in the past?

the Name was not foreign to us. More than that, I will not elaborate. It's a long time since I went off now, and those who have worked with the case since it must be allowed to speak about the details and what has happened in recent time, " says the former sheriff to the Newspaper.

New witnesses can resolve drapsmysteriet from 1998 - "The bitter end"

As the Newspaper publicized in the fall, is that since murder carried out the interrogation of more than 1400 witnesses. After the arrest is also completely new persons questioned - witnesses, the police were not in contact with in the period right after Bendiktsen was killed.

14. march, the 38-year-old to assume the ones in the dock in the Nord-Troms district court, where it is set by three weeks to the trial. According to the indictment raped he Bendiktsen before he stabbed her 13 times with a knife or a knivliknende subject in several places on the body, so that she died. So shall he have lit on the house of the 59-year-old widow.

In the district court will also Mikalsen take place on, the bench.

I'm still in Thailand when the case starts, but is aiming to get with me the end. It is enough then I follow this to "the bitter end", says the pensioner.

Expelled from Norway

The now defendant husband has family in Norway, but has not stayed stuck in the country for several years. 38-year-old previously convicted, among other things, for having attempted to rob a woman and for the aggravated theft.

Since the arrest last year he has been questioned a number of times. To his defense, Alexander Greaker, said earlier this week to the Newspaper that his client does not acknowledge straffskyld.

DNA is no evidence of rape, murder and ildspåsettelse. The client has submitted a reasonable explanation around this theme during his politiforklaringer. I don't want to go into detail on his explanation at the present time, said Greaker when the indictment came.

- Case has bothered me for 20 years. It is located and eats the whole time