The Court of Appeal for Western Sweden has been guilty of trial errors in the noted case the snippa dom, according to the Supreme Court. According to the Court of Appeal, it was unclear how the word “snip” should be interpreted – and a man was acquitted of raping a ten-year-old girl. Now the High Court has reviewed the verdict and decided that the trial should be retrialed.
Uncertainties about how the word “snip” should be interpreted led to the Court of Appeal for Western Sweden acquitting a man in his 50s, who was convicted in the district court of rape of a ten-year-old girl in June 2021. According to the Court of Appeal, it was not proven that the girl told about a penetration.
The verdict was appealed in March by Attorney General Petra Lundh to the Supreme Court. Among other things, Lundh stated that the Court of Appeal did not examine alternative criminal classifications in the case. That will now be the case.
“The Supreme Court notes that it must have been clear to the Court of Appeal that there was at least one alternative penalty provision that could be applied to the description of the offense – sexual abuse of children. The Court of Appeal therefore had the opportunity – and was also obliged – to take the processing measures required to be able to test the description of the offense against that penalty provision.”, HD writes in one press release.
The goal is retaken
The High Court has not examined the entire case, but only the question of whether the Court of Appeal has been guilty of a trial error. The decision from the High Court means that the acquittal is removed and that the case must be reconsidered in the Court of Appeal.
The verdict that came down in February stirred up strong emotions and two social democratic judges resigned from their positions at the Court of Appeal for Western Sweden.