Vittnesmål - En kritisk granskning av den svenska vittnesplikten och dess möjliggörande genom tvångsmedel, särskilt med beaktande av vittnens rättigheter
(2022) JURM02 20222Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Den svenska vittnesplikten innebär en skyldighet för vittnen, att inför domstol berätta sitt vittnesmål sanningsenligt. Vittnesplikten kan som utgångspunkt åläggas den som har information av värde för domstolens dömande verksamhet och är minst 15 år. Utifrån den betydelse vittnesmålet har för det allmännas intresse av brottsbekämpning, möjliggörs att vidta åtgärder för att förmå ett vittne att fullfölja sin vittnesplikt. Genom användningen av tvångsmedel kan vittnen som utgångspunkt vitesföreläggas, hämtas eller häktas med anledning av sitt vittnesmål. Möjligheten att använda tvångsmedel som inskränker vittnens rätt till privatliv, rörelsefrihet och frihet medför betydelsen av att de åtgärder som sker, legitimeras utifrån dess ändamål. Men... (More)
- Den svenska vittnesplikten innebär en skyldighet för vittnen, att inför domstol berätta sitt vittnesmål sanningsenligt. Vittnesplikten kan som utgångspunkt åläggas den som har information av värde för domstolens dömande verksamhet och är minst 15 år. Utifrån den betydelse vittnesmålet har för det allmännas intresse av brottsbekämpning, möjliggörs att vidta åtgärder för att förmå ett vittne att fullfölja sin vittnesplikt. Genom användningen av tvångsmedel kan vittnen som utgångspunkt vitesföreläggas, hämtas eller häktas med anledning av sitt vittnesmål. Möjligheten att använda tvångsmedel som inskränker vittnens rätt till privatliv, rörelsefrihet och frihet medför betydelsen av att de åtgärder som sker, legitimeras utifrån dess ändamål. Men även att den inverkan vittnesplikten har för vittnens integritet och rättigheter rättfärdigas.
Utifrån den betydelse vittnen har för rättsväsendet, möjliggörs att redan under brottsutredningen använda åtgärder och tvångsmedel för att möjliggöra förhör med vittnen. Det innebär att vittnens straffprocessuella roll medför skyldigheter och rättigheter som aktualiseras redan under förundersökningen. Därmed kan det vittnen uppger och den information hen får under förundersökningen, ligga till grund för att åläggas vittnesplikt. Under brottmålsprocessen sker en ständig avvägning beträffande det allmännas intresse av brottsbekämpning och vittnens rättigheter utifrån den proportionalitetsbedömning som ska föregå användning av tvångsmedel, vilket blir särskilt aktuellt att beakta vid avsaknaden av uttryckliga regler, brist på förutsägbarhet, men även beträffande hur barnets bästa beaktas hos ett 15-årigt vittne.
För att förmå vittnen att samarbeta med rättsväsendet möjliggörs alternativa sätt för bevisupptagning och bevispresentation, vilket i stor utsträckning medför möjlighet att delta i huvudförhandlingen genom ljud- och videolänk. Det ställer mindre krav på vittnens inställelse i domstol, vilket i sin tur kan tala mot användningen av tvångsmedel, samtidigt som det kan underlätta för vittnen som av rädsla inte vill avge sitt vittnesmål. Under senare år har vittnen erhållit flera utökade skyddsmöjligheter, exempelvis möjlighet till sekretessbelagda uppgifter. Även om vittnen sällan utsätts för repressalier och hot, kan deltagandet i brottmålsprocessen innebära en utmaning. Särskilt för det 15-åriga barnet som är vittne, och i stor utsträckning kan åläggas de tvångsmedel som vittnesplikten möjliggör. Men även med beaktande av hur de skyddsåtgärder som möjliggörs vittnen, inte alltid tillgodoser ett tillräckligt skydd. Utgångspunkten är att vittnen själva ansvarar för att tillgodose sina rättigheter i processen, vilket ställer stort krav på den informationsskyldighet som åvilar rättsväsendet. Samtidigt som möjligheten till information, också kan redogöra, för i vilken utsträckning vittnesplikten och de åtgärder den möjliggör legitimeras. (Less) - Abstract
- The Swedish duty to testify entails an obligation for the witness to tell their testimony truthfully before the court. A person can be required to testify from the age of 15 if they have information of value for the court’s administration of justice. Based on the importance of the testimony for the public interest in law enforcement, it is possible to take measures to compel a witness to fulfill their duty to testify. Through the use of coercive measures, the witness can be imposition of a conditional fine, fetched or detained. The possibility of using coercive measures that restrict the witness’s right to privacy, freedom of movement and freedom, entails the importance that the measures are legitimized based on their purpose. But also... (More)
- The Swedish duty to testify entails an obligation for the witness to tell their testimony truthfully before the court. A person can be required to testify from the age of 15 if they have information of value for the court’s administration of justice. Based on the importance of the testimony for the public interest in law enforcement, it is possible to take measures to compel a witness to fulfill their duty to testify. Through the use of coercive measures, the witness can be imposition of a conditional fine, fetched or detained. The possibility of using coercive measures that restrict the witness’s right to privacy, freedom of movement and freedom, entails the importance that the measures are legitimized based on their purpose. But also that the impact the duty to testify has on the integrity and rights of the witness is justified.
Based on the importance the witness has for the justice system, it is possible to use measures, and coercive measures even during the criminal investigation to enable questioning of the witness. This means that the witness’s criminal procedural role entails obligations and rights during the criminal trial procedure that is also relevant during the preliminary investigation. Which means that the witness’s statement and the information they receive during the preliminary investigation can be the basis for being compelled to testify. During the criminal trial procedure, there is a constant balancing of the public interest in law enforcement and the rights of the witness based on the proportionality assessment that must precede the use of coercive measures, which becomes particularly relevant to consider in the absence of distinct rules, predictability, but also regarding how the child’s best interests are taken into account in a 15-year-old witness.
To induce the witness to cooperate with authorities within the judicial system, alternative ways of presentation of evidence are made possible, which to a large extent entails the possibility of participating in the main hearing through audio and video link. It makes less demands on the witness appearance in court, which can speak against the use of coercive measures, and at the same time make it easier for the witness who does not want to give their testimony out of fear. In recent years, the witness has received several extended protection options, for example the possibility of classified information. Although the witness is rarely subjected to victimisation and threats due to their testimony, participation in the criminal trial procedure can be challenging. Especially for the 15-year-old child who is a witness that to a large extent can be imposed to the measures made possible by the duty to testify. But also when taking into account how the protective measures made possible for the witness do not always provide sufficient protection. The witness is responsible for fulfilling their rights in the process, which places a great demands on the information the authorities within the judicial system is obligated to tell. At the same time the possibility of information can also account for the extent to which the duty to testify and the measures it enables are legitimate. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9105271
- author
- Slatter, Annie LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- Testimony - A critical review of the Swedish obligation to give evidence and its enabling by coercive measures, particularly taking into account the rights of the witness
- course
- JURM02 20222
- year
- 2022
- type
- H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
- subject
- keywords
- Straffrätt, Vittnen, Vittnesplikt, Tvångsmedel, Barn
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9105271
- date added to LUP
- 2023-01-24 09:02:29
- date last changed
- 2023-01-24 09:02:29
@misc{9105271,
abstract = {{The Swedish duty to testify entails an obligation for the witness to tell their testimony truthfully before the court. A person can be required to testify from the age of 15 if they have information of value for the court’s administration of justice. Based on the importance of the testimony for the public interest in law enforcement, it is possible to take measures to compel a witness to fulfill their duty to testify. Through the use of coercive measures, the witness can be imposition of a conditional fine, fetched or detained. The possibility of using coercive measures that restrict the witness’s right to privacy, freedom of movement and freedom, entails the importance that the measures are legitimized based on their purpose. But also that the impact the duty to testify has on the integrity and rights of the witness is justified.
Based on the importance the witness has for the justice system, it is possible to use measures, and coercive measures even during the criminal investigation to enable questioning of the witness. This means that the witness’s criminal procedural role entails obligations and rights during the criminal trial procedure that is also relevant during the preliminary investigation. Which means that the witness’s statement and the information they receive during the preliminary investigation can be the basis for being compelled to testify. During the criminal trial procedure, there is a constant balancing of the public interest in law enforcement and the rights of the witness based on the proportionality assessment that must precede the use of coercive measures, which becomes particularly relevant to consider in the absence of distinct rules, predictability, but also regarding how the child’s best interests are taken into account in a 15-year-old witness.
To induce the witness to cooperate with authorities within the judicial system, alternative ways of presentation of evidence are made possible, which to a large extent entails the possibility of participating in the main hearing through audio and video link. It makes less demands on the witness appearance in court, which can speak against the use of coercive measures, and at the same time make it easier for the witness who does not want to give their testimony out of fear. In recent years, the witness has received several extended protection options, for example the possibility of classified information. Although the witness is rarely subjected to victimisation and threats due to their testimony, participation in the criminal trial procedure can be challenging. Especially for the 15-year-old child who is a witness that to a large extent can be imposed to the measures made possible by the duty to testify. But also when taking into account how the protective measures made possible for the witness do not always provide sufficient protection. The witness is responsible for fulfilling their rights in the process, which places a great demands on the information the authorities within the judicial system is obligated to tell. At the same time the possibility of information can also account for the extent to which the duty to testify and the measures it enables are legitimate.}},
author = {{Slatter, Annie}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Vittnesmål - En kritisk granskning av den svenska vittnesplikten och dess möjliggörande genom tvångsmedel, särskilt med beaktande av vittnens rättigheter}},
year = {{2022}},
}