Gjert Ingebrigtsen denies accusations of violence and manipulative behaviour towards his kids
Jakob Ingebrigtsen instructed a court docket in Sandnes, Norway, this week that his father Gjert manipulated him and even violently struck him a number of occasions throughout his childhood, leaving him emotionally scarred.
Gjert Ingebrigtsen is on trial accused of bodily and mentally abusing Jakob and in addition Jakob’s youthful sister Ingrid. The 59-year-old denies the fees.
Throughout 4 hours of testimony, Jakob instructed the court docket: “My upbringing was very a lot characterised by concern. All the pieces was managed and determined for me. There was an unlimited quantity of manipulation. As a young person I felt I had no free will or say in something.”
The athlete described a number of incidents of being punched and kicked by his father, too. On one event it got here after he acquired a damaging report about his behaviour from college when he was aged eight. He was additionally hit within the face as soon as after being late for a race and kicked within the abdomen after falling off a scooter.
Jakob, Filip and Henrik Ingebrigtsen (Getty)
Jakob, who gained world indoor 1500m and 3000m titles in Nanjing final weekend, collectively along with his older brothers Filip and Henrik made public claims in October 2023 that their father, who was their coach till 2022, had been violent.
Jakob instructed the court docket that he and his brothers lastly determined to behave in 2022, when Ingrid was hit within the face with a moist towel as a result of she didn’t wish to go for a run. It was at that time they cut up from their father and coach and instructed their story to the Norwegian newspaper VG.
Courtroom sketch by Ane Hem of Gjert Ingebrigtsen (Getty)
“She is a younger, small woman who’s in a bodily confrontation with a grown, massive man,” Jakob stated. “I’ve been in that myself, however I’m not her and may solely think about how traumatic that and people experiences have been for her. It was about her eager to cease working and coaching. She wasn’t allowed to do this.”
Gjert is because of give proof to the court docket subsequent week. Talking after this week’s listening to, his lawyer John Christian Elden instructed the Norwegian broadcaster NRK that Gjert had a “completely different notion of actuality”.
The trial is because of final till Could 16 and Gjert might resist six years in jail if convicted.
» Subscribe to AW journal right here, take a look at our new podcast right here or signal as much as our digital archive of again points from 1945 to the current day right here
