Juliane Snekkestad considering complaint: "I'm not done with this matter"

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 busy weighing up her next steps. "I'm not finished with this matter," she says.

It was last week that the Oslo district public prosecutor's office decided to discontinue the investigation into Høiby. The decision came as a surprise to many, and not least to Snekkestad herself. She has always wanted the case to be heard in court, and is strongly opposed to the prosecution now drawing a line under it.

She is now getting help from high-profile lawyer John Christian Elden to look into the options for an appeal. "We're examining whether there are grounds to appeal the dismissal, and we're also considering whether a civil case might be an option," says Elden. He emphasises they are taking the time to go through the documents thoroughly before reaching a conclusion.

Reaction to comments

In the wake of the case being dropped, there have also been several statements that Snekkestad finds inappropriate. Among other things, some have commented that the case "shouldn't have been in the media". That really gets to her. "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 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 defend myself against attacks afterwards as well," she adds.

Exploring several options

According to Snekkestad herself, she is determined to keep fighting. 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:

• Complaint to the Director of Public Prosecutions: First and foremost, they are considering lodging a complaint about the dismissal with the Director of Public Prosecutions, hoping the case can be reopened.
• Civil claim for damages: If the complaint is unsuccessful, it might be relevant to bring a civil case to seek compensation for the alleged violations.
• Release of documents: Snekkestad is also considering requesting access to all the investigation documents, in order 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 unexpected quarters

While the criticism has been pouring in, Snekkestad has also received support from several sources. 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 strength to keep going," she says.

She says she is now trying to find a balance between fighting her case and looking after 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.