Har golare några polare? - En rättsvetenskaplig undersökning av bevisvärdet av en kronvittnesutsaga
(2019) LAGF03 20192Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract
- In November 2019, a special investigator was given the assignment to analyze if there is a need to introduce a so called crown witness system in Sweden. A crown witness is a suspect that receives a reduced sentence for participating in the investigation or testifying of another´s criminal act. One of the biggest arguments against such a system is the difficulty to evaluate the credibility of a testimony presented by a crown witness.
Due to the principle of free evaluation of evidence, it is not regulated in Swedish law how this evaluation should be done. An evaluation of an oral testimony, especially one where the witness has a motive to lie, can cause problems. It is not easy to determine a lie. There are some indicators that can be... (More) - In November 2019, a special investigator was given the assignment to analyze if there is a need to introduce a so called crown witness system in Sweden. A crown witness is a suspect that receives a reduced sentence for participating in the investigation or testifying of another´s criminal act. One of the biggest arguments against such a system is the difficulty to evaluate the credibility of a testimony presented by a crown witness.
Due to the principle of free evaluation of evidence, it is not regulated in Swedish law how this evaluation should be done. An evaluation of an oral testimony, especially one where the witness has a motive to lie, can cause problems. It is not easy to determine a lie. There are some indicators that can be useful. However, these indicators have a low evidential value. Therefore, it is important that the testimonies are endorsed with additional evidence. The essay processes two court cases where the witnesses are comparable to crown witnesses. The courts conduct, in both cases, thorough evidence evaluations of the witnesses’ credibility and reliability.
Denmark and Sweden have almost identical justice systems and fundamental principles. In 2004 the Danish legislator stipulated a law that allowed for crown witnesses. The Danish courts where considered competent enough to thoroughly evaluate testimonies presented by crown witnesses. The Danish Supreme Court stated that even though there may be a risk for false testimonies, the interest of fighting organized crime is higher valued.
There is no doubt that a crown witness testimony holds a lower evidential value. But with an objective and extensive evidence evaluation, that follows all the guidelines and is endorsed by additional evidence, this should not be considered a detrimental problem. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- I november 2019 tillsattes en särskild utredare som fått i uppdrag att analysera om det finns ett behov och är lämpligt att införa ett så kallat kronvittnessystem. Med kronvittne avses en misstänkt som genom att medverka i utredningen av annans brottslighet går fri från straff eller får en mildare påföljd. Ett av de största argumenten mot ett kronvittnessystem är svårigheterna vid bevisvärderingen av kronvittnesutsagan.
Den svenska rättsordningen präglas av en fri bevisvärdering. Bevisvärdering av muntliga utsagor, där vittnet dessutom har ett incitament att ljuga, skapar svårigheter. Det är svårt att avgöra om någon talar sanning eller ljuger, men det finns en del indikatorer som är vägledande. Indikatorerna har dock svag beviskraft... (More) - I november 2019 tillsattes en särskild utredare som fått i uppdrag att analysera om det finns ett behov och är lämpligt att införa ett så kallat kronvittnessystem. Med kronvittne avses en misstänkt som genom att medverka i utredningen av annans brottslighet går fri från straff eller får en mildare påföljd. Ett av de största argumenten mot ett kronvittnessystem är svårigheterna vid bevisvärderingen av kronvittnesutsagan.
Den svenska rättsordningen präglas av en fri bevisvärdering. Bevisvärdering av muntliga utsagor, där vittnet dessutom har ett incitament att ljuga, skapar svårigheter. Det är svårt att avgöra om någon talar sanning eller ljuger, men det finns en del indikatorer som är vägledande. Indikatorerna har dock svag beviskraft och ofta krävs det därför att uppgifterna vinner stöd i övrig bevisning för att beviskravet ska uppnås. Bilsprängarmålet och Postterminalmålet är rättsfall där vittnena kan likställas med kronvittnen. I domstolarnas bevisvärderingar görs omfattande bedömningar av vittnenas trovärdigheter och utsagornas tillförlitlighet.
Danmark och Sverige har nästintill identiska rättssystem och omfattas av samma grundläggande principer. Danmark har sedan 2004 ett lagstadgat kronvittnessystem. Domstolarna ansågs i Danmark vara kompetenta nog att göra rättssäkra trovärdighetsbedömningar oavsett vittnets karaktär. Højeresteret menade dessutom att trots risk för felaktiga domar så väger intresset att utreda den grova brottsligheten tyngre.
Det råder ingen tvekan om att en kronvittnesutsaga kommer ha ett lägre bevisvärde. Men med en objektiv och noggrann bevisvärdering som följer alla riktlinjer, omfattande stödbevisning och vidtagande av åtgärderna som uppsatsen presenterat, torde detta inte utgöra ett större problem. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9000027
- author
- Stakovska, Alexandra LU
- supervisor
-
- Tova Bennet LU
- organization
- course
- LAGF03 20192
- year
- 2019
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Straffrätt, kronvittne
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9000027
- date added to LUP
- 2020-04-09 13:59:34
- date last changed
- 2020-04-09 13:59:34
@misc{9000027,
abstract = {{In November 2019, a special investigator was given the assignment to analyze if there is a need to introduce a so called crown witness system in Sweden. A crown witness is a suspect that receives a reduced sentence for participating in the investigation or testifying of another´s criminal act. One of the biggest arguments against such a system is the difficulty to evaluate the credibility of a testimony presented by a crown witness.
Due to the principle of free evaluation of evidence, it is not regulated in Swedish law how this evaluation should be done. An evaluation of an oral testimony, especially one where the witness has a motive to lie, can cause problems. It is not easy to determine a lie. There are some indicators that can be useful. However, these indicators have a low evidential value. Therefore, it is important that the testimonies are endorsed with additional evidence. The essay processes two court cases where the witnesses are comparable to crown witnesses. The courts conduct, in both cases, thorough evidence evaluations of the witnesses’ credibility and reliability.
Denmark and Sweden have almost identical justice systems and fundamental principles. In 2004 the Danish legislator stipulated a law that allowed for crown witnesses. The Danish courts where considered competent enough to thoroughly evaluate testimonies presented by crown witnesses. The Danish Supreme Court stated that even though there may be a risk for false testimonies, the interest of fighting organized crime is higher valued.
There is no doubt that a crown witness testimony holds a lower evidential value. But with an objective and extensive evidence evaluation, that follows all the guidelines and is endorsed by additional evidence, this should not be considered a detrimental problem.}},
author = {{Stakovska, Alexandra}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Har golare några polare? - En rättsvetenskaplig undersökning av bevisvärdet av en kronvittnesutsaga}},
year = {{2019}},
}