The Oslo District Court has ruled that the Norwegian newspapers Aftenposten and Dagbladet will retain their press accreditations, despite admitting to breaches of a photography prohibition that occurred during a trial. The breaches took place in the first week of the proceedings, prompting the court to request explanations from both media outlets. Both newspapers have issued apologies and outlined steps taken to ensure such incidents do not recur, indicating the breaches were avoidable.

Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad stated that the court had received reports from both Aftenposten and Dagbladet, acknowledging the infractions and demonstrating a willingness to correct their practices. The particular incident in question involved Aftenposten photographer Olav Olsen capturing an image of defendant Høiby inside the courthouse, which violated the legal restrictions against photographing defendants in criminal cases without their consent. Olsen claimed the photograph was taken accidentally as he was capturing an image of an exiting expert from the courtroom.

This ruling reflects the court's consideration of the role of the media in reporting on legal proceedings while balancing the rights of defendants in criminal cases. By allowing the outlets to maintain their credentials, the court is signaling an openness to media coverage, provided that those in the press adhere to legal protocols in the future. This decision highlights ongoing tensions between media freedom and the legal framework governing trial coverage in Norway.