Today, the trial against the writer and debater Cissi Wallin ended in Stockholm District Court.
Cissi Wallin is acquitted of the crime of freedom of the press and freedom of expression, gross slander following the jury's decision.
A higher court may not deviate from the jury's assessment.
Cissi Wallin, who was present in the courtroom, was shocked by the jury's acquittal.
- I have had a very bad gut feeling all the time, precisely because they have chosen to bring this prosecution, which is the first time in 55 years.
I'm glad it's over, she says to Kulturnyheterna.
Has been convicted before
In 2021, the Chancellor of Justice (JK) decided to prosecute the writer and debater Cissi Wallin for information published in her autobiographical book "All that was mine - the story that must not be told" from 2020. Cissi Wallin has previously been convicted of gross slander for directing rape allegations against a named person on social media.
In total, the indictment was about seven pieces of text in the book which, according to JK, portray the man concerned in a criminal way.
JK had also demanded that the book be confiscated, which had meant that the state collected all unsold copies of the book and then destroyed them.
Unusual with conviction
The acquittal is expected, says lawyer Ängla Eklund:
- It is extremely unusual for JK to prosecute in press freedom cases regarding gross slander in books, as in this case.
So I think there are many who think that this outcome was expected.
The last time a book was convicted of libel was in 1965, with Ing-Marie Eriksson's debut novel Märit.
The author had failed to change the name of one of his characters and because of that it was considered that the book could be linked to real people and events.
The designated man has chosen not to comment.