You have asked me to describe an attack that happened in a work situation with Manuela Schreibmaier last year in Oslo. I will be brief.
On March 30th, 2000, I was physically assaulted by Manuela Schreibmaier when I refused to leave an area in a multi-media studio that she wanted me out of. I was wrestled to the floor by her, brutally kicked, punched, and had handfuls of my hair torn out. My head and elbows were banged against the floor. Two other workers heard the sounds of struggle, and when they came she desisted and left the area. I was humiliated and in a state of shock and I didn't tell the others how badly I was hurt. I should have called the police immediately and received medical attention that night, but instead I finished my assignment and went back to where I was staying and spent the night in severe pain and psychological trauma. My legs had been so severely kicked that they were bloodied and bruised from the knees to the ankles, and it was painful for me to walk afterwards for a month. I had swelling and bruises on my neck, my arms, my ribs, buttocks and thighs. I was severely traumatized and in shock, but I finished my work in Oslo for a tight deadline by working round the clock for three days, and then had to travel to Finnmark, the arctic region of Norway, for another work assignment. When I got up there I filed charges of assault and battery with the police. I received telephone counseling through a crisis center in Kirkenes (on-going), and checked myself into the health center one weekend night for emergency psychological help when I was feeling particularly vulnerable and at risk. I also had my legs examined at that time, because I was still in severe pain and feared the possibility of bone-splints. I have recovered physically, but the psychological trauma of this attack is still with me. It has affected my work, and my ability to function and relate to other human beings.
Manuela was confronted by Mona Bentzen, the leader of the animation project she was working on, about this attack, and asked to explain in a written report what happened. Manuela never did so. She left Oslo and did not return to Norway to present her work at the festival where it was to have been shown. No further contact was made with the Austrian embassy, which had funded her travel, and no explanation was ever given to them as to why she did not fulfill the conditions of her participation in the animation festival that she was supposed to have been part of.
The criminal charges that I filed were transferred from Finnmark to the Oslo police department. I was told by them that since Manuela was no longer in the country, the charges would not be pressed; that it was too difficult to pursue a case like this across borders.
The case# is 38610/00 with the Oslo Police.
yours,
Dr. Kristin Norderval
PS. I have described in brief what occurred. On the emotional level there are two memories that particularly haunt me. The first is that at one point Manuela screamed that I'd better do as she said or else, quote, "I'll give you a beating you'll never forget." The second is that although in the first moments I panicked and tried to fight back in self-defense, throughout most of the attack I was simply trying to protect my limbs and head and was passively resisting, yet that didn't deter her rage. I can still see her in front of me, kicking me brutally while I simply stood there in frozen bewilderment at her insanity.