Woman was not successful - sentenced for hate speech again

The verdict is unanimous. The woman who called Celine Song Mee Nilsen (28) "damn Chinese" on Barcode has again been convicted of racism.

Last year, the accused woman was sentenced to 21 days in unconditional prison for hate speech, reckless behavior and violence against Nilsen.

The woman appealed the case , and now she has also been sentenced in the Court of Appeal.

- I am so grateful to be believed, both in the district court and the court of appeal. This shows that racism is unacceptable and that the legal system cracks down on it. Justice has prevailed, says Celine Nilsen to VG.

The woman's lawyer Kim Ellertsen tells VG that he has not had time to familiarize himself with the new sentence, and does not want to comment immediately.

The defendant has been convicted of, among other things, saying "damn Chinese" to Nilsen and a restaurant employee during a visit to a restaurant in Bjørvika. Parts of the incident were caught on video.

The woman, who is in her 40s, has now been sentenced to 24 days in prison by the Court of Appeal.

She must also pay a fine of NOK 18,000 for the offences. The verdict is unanimous.

Nilsen also receives compensation of NOK 25,000 and for lost income of NOK 200,000, as a result of the psychological burden the woman has caused her.

- I am so relieved. Both the incident and the process afterwards have been a painful strain. I have often thought that it has not been worth it, nor to come forward with the case, says Nilsen himself.

Nilsen, who was adopted from South Korea, came forward in VG about the incident two years ago. She then described a tough time after the confrontation, which became physical.

Glad the trial is over

- For my client, it is a relief to be done with questions of guilt in this case. The experience and the trial have been burdensome for Celine, says Nilsen's assistance lawyer, Jon Wessel-Aas .

He says that it is important to Nilsen that the case had this outcome and that a different outcome could make it more difficult for others to stand up against racism.

- Celine stood up when she witnessed racism being practiced, and no one else said anything. The fact that she dared to stand up against racism led to her having to pay in being exposed to racism and violence herself, says Wessel-Aas.

- She has done her civic duty and used her freedom of speech to speak out. She now feels that the long process was worth it.

Regret the statements

Ahead of the trial in Oslo district court last year, the woman denied that she was racist or had racist motives.

To VG, her lawyer Kim Ellertsen said the following after the first sentence:

- Our client takes this sentence very seriously, and regrets her statements, but she believes that the sentence is based on both an incorrect understanding of what happened that night and an incorrect application of the law, Ellertsen said then.

During the questioning in the Oslo district court, the woman said, among other things, that she could not possibly have made hateful remarks against Asians, as she herself loves Asian food and has been to Asia.

She also added that she herself is a "foreigner" and therefore believes she cannot be racist.