While the specialist judge thought there was no doubt that a serious rape had taken place that night, the two fellow judges disagreed on the issue of guilt. The uncertainties were too many, and too great, for it to be prudent to look away from them, the majority said. Thus, the man in his 50s was acquitted of rape. – I am shocked, and of course very surprised by this verdict. I of course want it to be censured, wrote the offended woman to news. Report the man after almost 30 years The offended woman has previously told news that the man threatened her life and raped her one winter night in 1995. She has previously told news that the man, who was then a friend of hers, held a knife to her head and hit her repeatedly. When she went to the police shortly after the incident, she did not dare to give the man’s name, she has explained. But when the man started sending her messages nearly 30 years later, she went to the police again. They encouraged her to report the incident, which she did. In January 2024, the state attorney brought charges against the man, who has now been acquitted. – I was let down by the police in 1995, and I feel let down again in 2024, says the woman. The man was acquitted in Hordaland district court. The prosecution now has two weeks to decide whether they want to appeal the case. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news Relieved of the acquittal The now acquitted man has explained in court that he was stunned when he was confronted with the debt, and thought it had no roots in reality. The man’s defender, Erik Johan Mjelde, says the man is now relieved about the sentence. – We have not gone through the verdict in detail, but immediately he is of course enormously relieved and happy, after having had this case hanging over him for a long time. He hopes he can put this nightmare behind him. The prosecution now has two weeks to decide whether they wish to appeal the case. news has not been able to get a comment from State Attorney Kristine Hennebrøden. The man is relieved at the verdict, says defense attorney Erik Johan Mjelde. Photo: Synne Lykkebø Hafsaas / news Published 05.09.2024, at 21.16 Updated 05.09.2024, at 21.31
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Report on rape almost 30 years later – now the man is acquitted – news Vestland
