Juliane Snekkestad considering appeal: "I'm not done with this case"
It's been a few days since prosecutors dropped the case against Marius Borg Høiby, but for Juliane Snekkestad, it's far from over. Quite the opposite. The young woman, who came forward with her experiences, is now in the thick of considering her next steps. "I'm not done with this case," she says.
It was last week that the Oslo district public prosecutors' office decided to discontinue the investigation into Høiby. The decision came as a surprise to many, and not least to Snekkestad herself. She has wanted all along to have the case heard in court, and strongly objects to prosecutors now drawing a line under it.
She is now getting help from high-profile lawyer John Christian Elden to review the options for an appeal. "We're looking at whether there are grounds to appeal the dismissal, and we're also considering if a civil case could be an option," says Elden. He stresses they are taking the time to go through the documents thoroughly before making a decision.
Reaction to comments
In the wake of the case being dropped, there have also been several comments that Snekkestad feels are inappropriate. Among other things, some have remarked that the case "shouldn't have been in the media". That really gets her fired up. "It's hurtful to hear people trivialising what I've been through. This is about more than just a headline," she says.
She feels that many people don't grasp the seriousness of it, and that coming forward has been a huge burden. "I knew it was going to be tough, but I hadn't anticipated having to also defend myself against attacks afterwards," she adds.
Weighing up several options
According to Snekkestad herself, she's determined to keep fighting. She wants to highlight what she sees as flaws in the investigation and the prosecution's assessment. Together with Elden, she's now looking at several avenues:
- Appeal to the Director of Public Prosecutions: First and foremost, they're considering appealing the dismissal to the Director of Public Prosecutions, hoping the case can be reopened.
- Civil claim for damages: If the appeal is unsuccessful, it might be relevant to bring a civil case to seek compensation for the alleged violations.
- Release of documents: Snekkestad is also thinking about requesting access to all the documents from the investigation, to be able to counter claims that have been made publicly.
"I've got nothing to hide, and I want people to see what this is really all about. Getting the truth out there is important to me," she says firmly.
Support from an unexpected quarter
While the criticism has been pouring in, Snekkestad has also received support from several quarters. Several women's rights organisations and individuals have reached out to express their sympathy. "It warms my heart to know there are people who see me and believe me. It gives me the strength to keep going," she says.
She says she's now trying to find a balance between fighting for her cause and looking after her own health. "It's demanding, but I've got good people around me. I know what I want, and I'm not giving up."
For Juliane Snekkestad, this is far from over. With Elden in her corner and a clear plan for the way forward, she's now looking ahead. "I hope that through this, we can help others in similar situations feel brave enough to come forward too. It's worth the fight," she concludes.