A group of friends went on a trip to Gothenburg and enjoyed a party evening that included drinking champagne, cocktails, and shots at a tavern in the middle of the Avenue. However, one of the women’s memory gaps from the evening suggests she may have been drugged. She and her friend came into contact with two men at the pub, one of whom showed extra interest in her. Despite her friend warning him multiple times to leave her alone, she remembers leaving the pub and freezing because she was only wearing a dress. The next thing she remembers is being pushed against a tree and raped in Kungsparken, where she repeatedly said no but was ignored. After the incident, the woman’s friends found her crying in just her dress, blaming herself for what had happened. The rapist was soon identified based on photos he posted on Snapchat, was sentenced to three years in prison, and lifetime deportation, and was ordered to pay SEK 215,000 in damages to the woman.
The friends’ trip to Gothenburg at the beginning of the year included a party evening. Around midnight they ended up in a tavern in the middle of the Avenue.
– We had a lot of fun. There was a very good atmosphere at the bar, says one of the women in questioning and says that they drank champagne, cocktails and shots.
Therefore, the plaintiff has some memory gaps from the evening.
The girlfriends came into contact with two men at the pub. One of them showed a little extra interest in the woman.
– I remember that he was very into me and that my friend said several times that he would leave me alone.
The next memory she has is of her leaving the pub with the man.
– I froze because I was only wearing a dress.
“I said no so many times”
They entered Kungsparken and here she was pushed against a tree and raped.
– I didn’t want to have sex, but he said “I know you want to”. I said no so many times. But he only did what he wanted, she testifies.
Afterwards, the woman walked towards Vasaplatsen. Outside a bar, two girls noticed her:
– She stands in just a dress and cries. We asked if she was okay, then she told us that she had been raped. She was very sad. She put a lot of blame on herself like it was her fault. We said it wasn’t.
While the plaintiff was being interrogated and taken to the gynecological emergency room, the man met his companion again.
– He was pale and had a lot of panic. He said “I think she will report me”. I asked why, if he did something against her will? He answered no, the man’s friend testified.
When the friend asked why he was so afraid in that case, he is said to have received the answer that she might try to get money from him.
The police dressed up as construction workers
The rapist could be identified quite soon. During the evening, the woman had added him on Snapchat. The police also saw that he posted pictures of himself and the plaintiff from the night of the crime.
The man was arrested in his absence and soon they received information that he could be found at a construction site in Hisingen.
As the man lacks a residence and work permit in Sweden, the police decided to dress up as construction workers.
When they encountered the man, he tried to run away. Because of the resistance the man offered, the patrol was forced to spray pepper spray in his eyes.
In questioning, the man says that he did not understand that they were police officers:
– It was chaotic and traumatic for me. It was like facing your own death, you know.
Claims they parted with a kiss
He denies having raped the woman.
According to his version, they were going to a hotel to have sex, but he realized he couldn’t afford it. Therefore, the intercourse was carried out in Kungsparken.
– It was based on her own free will. It didn’t last more than a minute and when we were done she kissed me and we embraced.
Concerning the friend’s information that he was supposed to have been pale and nervous afterwards, he says:
– I thought if the police or someone else had seen us. I know you can’t have sex in the middle of a park.
He believes that he also speculated that the woman’s friend would alert the police simply because she had not wanted to see them together.
Sentenced to prison
The district court does not believe the man. It considers that no reason has emerged for the plaintiff to lie.
The court further writes that it appears to be ruled out, with regard to the woman’s affected condition, that she deliberately provided incorrect information and acted as she did.
The 22-year-old man is now sentenced to three years in prison for rape and violent resistance.
He is also sentenced to lifetime deportation and to pay damages to the plaintiff of SEK 215,000.
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