A 27-year-old graffiti artist is acquitted by the district court of vandalism, after having spray-painted a lamb on a concrete wall on Gotland. The court considers that the “beauty value” has increased.
“The way the perpetrator illustrated the lamb testifies to an artistic deed performed with a certain amount of artistic and technical skill,” writes the Gotland district court in the verdict.
It was a Saturday night in September this year that a 27-year-old man was caught red-handed when he stood by a building in a harbor area in Visby and spray-painted a lamb on the facade. Something like Today’s Law was the first to report on.
When a passing police patrol caught sight of the 27-year-old, he jumped on his bike and tried to escape. But he was able to be arrested near the scene. He had a sketch of the lamb with him.
Photo: Police/FUP
Photo: Police/FUP
The man admitted the act on the spot and stated that he had been painting graffiti for five years. The 27-year-old was later charged with minor damage. But Gotland’s district court considers that the lamb painting “can hardly be perceived as offensive” and acquits the man.
The court also decides that the man must get back the spray cans that the police seized during the arrest.
“The depicted subject – a lamb – is a symbol of Gotland, as both a region and a tourist destination, and can hardly be perceived as offensive,” writes the Gotland district court in the judgment.
The district court also considers that “the aesthetic value of the cracked concrete facade – in purely objective terms – has been increased by painting”. Thus, the painting has not caused such a deterioration of the beauty value that the 27-year-old can be sentenced for minor damage, according to the verdict.
Wanted to offer free art
In questioning with the police, the 27-year-old stated that the painting is a way for him to express himself artistically, and that his intention with the paintings is to offer free art to passers-by.
The man says he was motivated to paint a lamb when he realized the sheep was a symbol of Gotland.
“Then it felt even better to paint”, he says according to the police interrogation.
The prosecutor had requested 40 daily fines of SEK 50.