Juliane Snekkestad considers appeal: "I'm not done with this case"

A few days have passed since the prosecution dropped the case against Marius Borg Høiby, but for Juliane Snekkestad, it is far from over. Quite the contrary. The young woman, who came forward with her experiences, is now actively considering her next steps. "I'm not done with this case," she says.

It was last week that the Oslo public prosecutors' office decided to drop the investigation against Høiby. The decision came as a surprise to many, and not least to Snekkestad herself. She has consistently wanted the case to be tried in court, and strongly reacts to the prosecution now putting an end to it.

She is now getting help from the prominent lawyer John Christian Elden to review the possibilities for an appeal. "We are looking at whether there are grounds to appeal the dismissal, and are also considering if a civil lawsuit could be relevant," says Elden. He emphasizes that they are taking the time to go through the documents thoroughly before concluding.

Reacts to statements

In the wake of the case being dropped, several statements have also been made that Snekkestad finds inappropriate. Among other things, some have commented that the case "shouldn't have been in the media." That has struck a nerve. "It's hurtful to hear people trivialize what I've been through. This is about more than just a headline," she says.

She feels that many don't understand the seriousness, and that coming forward has been a huge burden. "I knew it would be tough, but I hadn't anticipated having to also defend myself against attacks afterwards," she adds.

Weighing several options

According to Snekkestad herself, she is determined to fight on. She wants to highlight what she believes are weaknesses in the investigation and the prosecution's assessment. Together with Elden, she is now looking at several avenues:

• Appeal to the Director of Public Prosecutions: Primarily, they are considering appealing the dismissal to the Director of Public Prosecutions, hoping the case can be reopened.
• Civil lawsuit for compensation: If the appeal doesn't succeed, filing a civil lawsuit to seek compensation for the alleged violations could be an option.
• Disclosure of documents: Snekkestad is also considering requesting access to all documents from the investigation to be able to counter claims that have been made publicly.

"I have nothing to hide, and I want people to see what this is really 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 organizations and individuals have reached out and expressed their sympathy. "It warms my heart to know there are people who see me and believe in me. It gives me the strength to stand my ground," she says.

She says she is now trying to find a balance between fighting for her cause and taking care of her own health. "It's demanding, but I have 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 by her side and a clear plan for the way forward, she is now looking ahead. "I hope that through this, we can help others in similar situations to also dare to come forward. It's worth the fight," she concludes.