Juliane Snekkestad Considering Appeal: "I'm Not Done With This Case"

It has been a few days since the prosecution dropped the case against Marius Borg Høiby, but for Juliane Snekkestad, it is far from over. Quite the opposite. 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 discontinue 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 heard in court, and strongly reacts to the prosecution now drawing a line under it.

She is now receiving help from prominent lawyer John Christian Elden to review the possibilities for an appeal. "We are looking into whether there are grounds to appeal the dismissal, and we are also considering if a civil case could be relevant," says Elden. He emphasises that they are taking their time to go through the documents thoroughly before reaching a conclusion.

Reaction to Statements

In the wake of the case being dropped, several statements have emerged that Snekkestad finds inappropriate. Among other things, some have commented that the case "shouldn't have been in the media." This really fires her up. "It's hurtful to hear people trivialising what I've been through. This is about something more than just a headline," she says.

She feels that many do not understand 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 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:

• Appeal to the Director of Public Prosecutions: First and foremost, they are considering appealing the dismissal to the Director of Public Prosecutions, hoping the case can be reopened.
• Civil Lawsuit for Damages: If the appeal is unsuccessful, it might be relevant to file a civil lawsuit to claim compensation for the alleged violations.
• 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. It's important for me to bring out the truth," she says firmly.

Support from Unexpected Quarters

At the same time as 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 the strength to stand my ground," she says.

She shares that 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.