Convicted Murderer VARG VIKERNES Once Again Denied Parole

June 11, 2008

Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh) the former BURZUM mastermind who is currently serving a Norwegian prison term for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous) is too dangerous to be released into society, according to justice officials. Government critics fear that his background as an ideologically motivated church-burning arsonist, and his connections with neo-Nazi groups, are making it impossible for him to get a fair parole hearing, according to Aftenposten.

Vikernes is serving a 21-year sentence, the maximum that Norwegian law allows, for murder and setting fire to three churches in 1993. Having spent the last 15 years behind bars and after serving two-thirds of his prison time, he has become eligible to apply for parole.

Case workers at the Justice Ministry fear that Vikernes will be unable to adjust to life on the outside after his years in jail. They have turned down his application, according to Aftenposten.

"I can't understand it. They want me to make arrangements with social services, even though this is unnecessary. Must I be on welfare in order to be released? I have a house, a job and a family waiting for me," Vikernes who is married, with one daughter (aged 15) and a son (aged nine months) told daily newspaper VG.

The authorities emphasize that Vikernes escaped from prison in 2003 and that he has ties to neo-Nazi groups.

"I haven't been in contact with them for a long time. Police security services know this," Vikernes responded.

Parole authorities refuse to comment on the reasons for rejecting his application, referring to the confidentiality that surrounds such hearings, reports Aftenposten.

"The authorities are worried that they might be considered to be soft on unpopular convicts," says a professor of criminology at the University of Oslo, Kristian Andens, when criticizing the verdict.

Varg is free to apply for parole again within a year.

Photo courtesy of Burzum.org:

Norwegian TV report on Varg Vikernes (with a short interview) shot sometimes during the 1990s:

(Thanks: Vegard Vestmo)

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