The brothers were acquitted in 2018 of all suspicions that they murdered four-year-old Kevin in Arvika in 1998. In connection with this, they demanded compensation of SEK 10 million each for non-profit damage.

Chancellor of Justice Mari Heidenborg announced on Wednesday the decision that she rejects the brothers' request with reference to prescription. The limitation period for damages is ten years, so it expired even before the brothers were of age.

- Their only option to get the Chancellor of Justice to grant this would have been that they filed a claim for damages a long time ago, before there was a decision where they were judged not guilty and that is an unreasonable thought in itself, one might think, says Anne Ramberg, lawyer and former Secretary General of the Swedish Bar Association.

"Review law change"

Mia Edwall Insulander, Secretary General of the Swedish Bar Association, believes that there may be reasons to review whether a change in the law is needed with regard to the limitation period in this and similar cases. Since the brothers were children and could not be tried as criminals, they lost the opportunity to take various out-of-date measures, such as appealing a verdict.

- I think it is probably an issue that needs to be reviewed, for example within the framework of an investigation to review whether a change in the law is needed, says Mia Edwall Insulander.

Ex gratia

The next step for the brothers will be to either sue the state in court or turn directly to the government and ask for ex gratia. Ex gratia means a compensation that is paid after a decision by the government when there is no legal obligation to pay compensation according to law.

Minister of Financial Markets Per Bolund (MP) tells TT that he has confidence in the decision that JK has made, but he also highlights the possibility of other compensation for the brothers.

- Those processes have not been started yet so it is too early to say what it will lead to. Our basic attitude is that if you have been treated incorrectly by the state, you should have the opportunity to receive compensation for it, says Bolund.