Faroese court to rule on Sandá assault case tomorrow

The Faroese High Court’s jury will deliver its verdict tomorrow in the case of a 36-year-old Polish man accused of rape and aggravated assault near Sandá.

The ruling is scheduled for 9:30 AM on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, according to a report by Kringvarp Føroya (KVF).

The incident occurred on the evening of April 28, 2024, shortly before 6 PM, when the man allegedly attacked a woman from behind, strangling her until she lost consciousness. Medical examinations confirmed she was in a life-threatening condition. The assault also included repeated strikes to her head and further sexual violence.

In March 2025, the Faroese Court of First Instance convicted the man, sentencing him to indefinite secure custody—considered the harshest penalty in Faroese law—and ordering his expulsion from the Faroe Islands. He was also ordered to pay the victim over 200,000 Danish kroner in compensation for pain and suffering, as well as lost earnings. The court noted his prior conviction for murder in Poland.

During the appeal, the defense argued for acquittal, presenting new evidence and questioning the victim’s testimony. The defendant maintained his innocence, stating he had come to the Faroe Islands to work and start a new life. The jury will first address guilt before determining the sentence, possibly later on Wednesday or the following day.