- I have appealed that verdict today.

Because I think the district court has made an incorrect assessment of the evidence, says prosecutor Annie Runander to SVT Nyheter Småland.

The man, who voluntarily left his post within the Church of Sweden, was charged in mid-October.

The indictment is based primarily on the close girl's statement about recurring abuse between the years 2010 and 2018.

But the district court reasoned that the girl's story was certainly quite detailed - but technical evidence was lacking and it has been difficult for the prosecutor and the girl herself to reproduce in time when the various abuses should have taken place.

Therefore, the man was acquitted of the sex crimes in Växjö District Court.

But the district court did not agree, a judge wanted the man to be convicted.

Retrying the evidence

No new evidence has been added in the case, but the prosecutor wants the Court of Appeal to re-examine the evidence.

- It is difficult with the evaluation of evidence in this type of case, when it comes to crimes that go back in time and there are no witnesses or technical evidence, says prosecutor Annie Runander.

In the district court, however, the man was convicted of a case of assault against another woman.

According to Annie Runander, the man himself has appealed this part of the verdict, he wants to be acquitted completely.