The woman reported her ex-boyfriend five years after a rape. Now the man is sentenced for the crime in the district court.
– Our hope is that these types of sentences lead to more people daring to report rapes, says Magnus Kjellberg, police assistant in the sexual crime group at the Stockholm North police area.
A 23-year-old man was sentenced at the end of October this year for raping his former girlfriend. The then 16-year-old man allegedly raped the girlfriend in her home in 2017.
Both the perpetrator and the victim were under 18 when the crime was committed.
– It is not so common that crimes that are reported late lead to prosecution and sentence, says Magnus Kjellberg, police assistant in the sexual crime group at the Stockholm North police area, to TV4 Nyheterna.
– Our hope is that this type of sentence will lead to more people daring to report rape. But the death rate is believed to be high and we hope that more people report rape in general, he continues.
Fear of the boyfriend
The victim chose to report the rape several years after the incident, partly because of fear of the ex-boyfriend, says Kjellberg. He adds that rapes can be reported up to ten years after the incident, when they are then time-barred.
But it is always preferable to report the crime as soon as possible, he emphasizes.
– It is more difficult to get a conviction after a long time has passed. The challenge often depends on the type of evidence available.
Evidence in the case
“The evidence in the case consists of a credible account of the incident from the plaintiff and witnesses, the plaintiff’s diary entries and the plaintiff’s contacts with healthcare facilities,” according to the judgment.
– One of the success factors is a “clear and clear” account of the event. The district court judges that it is so strong that it is sufficient for a conviction, says Magnus Kjellberg.
The 23-year-old is sentenced to a suspended sentence and compensation of SEK 180,900 to the victim.
Urges everyone to seek medical attention
Magnus Kjellberg urges everyone to seek care if you have been the victim of sexual abuse, even if you may not always have the courage or strength to file a police report immediately after being victimized. If you agree, a track search takes place.
– Then the evidence is saved for at least two years after the crime, he says.
According to Kjellberg, a visit to healthcare does not automatically mean that a report is made to the police.