– It’s absolutely terrible, I’ve had a cold sweat all night, says camping guest Anne-Karine Blegeberg (74) to VG.
A 20-minute drive from Elverum, right down by Glomma at Braskereidfoss, is Støa camping.
Until recently, Geir-Arne Lervik (55) was the general manager of the campsite, and ran the place together with his partner.
On the night of Sunday, he was found murdered in his own bed. A woman in her 50s is charged with the murder. She has pleaded guilty Pleading guilty means that you admit to having done what you are accused of. .
Also read: Geir-Arne (55) was killed at Braskereidfoss
FRIENDS: Anne-Karine Blegeberg describes Geir-Arne Lervik and his partner as very pleasant and hardworking people. Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG
Were together earlier in the evening
Anne-Karine Blegeberg’s mobile home is only a few meters from the crime scene.
– At half past three in the morning, the police came to the door and knocked, she says.
– It’s awful.
Blegeberg says that she was with Lervik, his roommate and the now accused woman on Saturday afternoon.
Then they drank some wine, before the accused woman wanted to continue to Bokken bar, the local pub in the village, according to Blegeberg.
– She was going up to Bokken. Suddenly she took her bag and went out, says Blegeberg.
She found that the woman was drunk. Then she got angry, for no reason, according to Blegeberg.
– It just happened suddenly, there was no discussion beforehand or anything.
PUB: The accused woman must have been to the Bokken bar before the murder. Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG
Also read: Våler: The roommate did not witness the murder
After the woman disappeared, the others went their separate ways, according to Blegeberg.
VG has previously mentioned the visit to the Bokken bar. The bartender then stated that the woman seemed so pleasant during the visit.
Just over half an hour after the woman left the pub on Saturday evening, Lervik was found dead in her own home.
The police believe that the accused woman first took a taxi to his house, and that she shortly took the same taxi home to herself.
Also read: The accused of murder took a taxi from the pub: – She seemed so pleasant
Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG
– I do not understand anything
According to the police, the accused woman and Lervik should have known each other, but they should not have been related or had a partner relationship.
Anne-Karine Blegeberg and her partner have lived at the campsite for 15 years and know who the accused woman is.
– She has worked here with them all winter. In the summer, she ran the pizza shop that stands here, and served.
Blegeberg says she knows nothing about the motive, and that it seemed fine earlier in the evening.
– I don’t understand anything, says the 74-year-old.
Permanent resident: – It’s really unreal
On Tuesday afternoon, police tape was still hanging around the crime scene.
– It is unpleasant to walk past the house. It’s really unreal and very uncomfortable. A shock, quite simply, says Mei Li (47) to VG.
MEETED BY BLUE LIGHTS: Mei Li (47) was frightened when she returned home to her caravan on the night of Sunday. Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG
She also lives permanently at Støa camping. On Saturday she went to Sweden and didn’t come home until two or three-thirty on the night of Sunday.
– Then there were police cars blocking the road, there were roadblocks and blue lights, says Li.
– At first I thought it was a fire in a caravan or something like that. It is only now that it is beginning to dawn on me that he was killed, she says.
She describes the place as quiet and peaceful, especially out of season. During the summer, dance band evenings with live music and dancing are occasionally arranged.
– It is very popular. Then there is a bit of partying and drinking and the like, but never anything embarrassing. I have the impression that there are quite a few older people here, she says.
– A friend is gone
Braskereidfoss is a small village with around 300 inhabitants, where practically everyone knows everyone.
– We have had a number of common interests and have ridden a number of motorbikes together, says Jan Vidar Lonkemoen (57) about his mate.
He and his family live a few hundred meters from Støa Camping.
FRIEND: Jan Vidar Lonkemoen (57) knew Geir-Arne Lervik for many years. Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG
– It is a small, local environment. Not many people live here. Most people know each other, he says.
It was especially the admiration for American cars and Harley Davidson bikes that brought him and Lervik together.
– It turns out that you meet when you are out driving. It’s not pleasant, it’s a friend who has gone missing. Me and a couple of the other guys think it’s really sad.
COMMON HOBBY: Jan Vidar Lonkemoen dreads the first ride with the Harley, without his friend Geir-Arne Lervik. Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG
The first motorcycle trip without Lervik will be wistful and different, Lonkemoen believes. He refers to his mate as someone who was easy to like.
– It is sad. It is quite clear. Then it was sad to hear that someone he knew so well had confessed, he says.
VG has tried to reach the woman’s defender on Wednesday evening, without success.
Also read: The Våler murder: – Different explanations about motive
Unclear motive
The police have so far not commented on the motive for the murder. Lervik’s roommate is said to have been at home when the murder occurred, but has explained that she was not a witness to the incident itself.
Neighbors and acquaintances have previously described Lervik and his roommate as pleasant and enterprising – people who made it possible for people in the village to have a good time.
– They have stood like this, they are crazy smart people, says Bjørn Amundrud (58) to VG.
NEIGHBORS: Bjørn and Pakamas Amundrud have a clear view of the campsite. Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG
He and his wife Pakamas Amundrud (48) live on the other side of Glomma, and have a direct view of Støa camping.
They say that Lervik and his roommate have breathed new life into the campsite. A place like this means a lot to a small village, points out Bjørn Amundrud.
– I hope his partner will continue to run it, he says.
The family is having a very difficult time and wants peace going forward to grieve, the family’s legal aid lawyer, Øyvind Borg, told VG on Wednesday afternoon.
– On behalf of himself and the deceased’s close family, the deceased’s partner wishes to express gratitude for the support they have received in recent days. What has happened is completely incomprehensible and the last few days have been unreal, says Borg.