Man acquitted of sexual assault after revelation of Snapchat video in Oslo

A man previously convicted of sexual assault has been acquitted after new evidence emerged, reversing a 3.5-year prison sentence. The man located a Snapchat video that led to the reopening of his case. “I feel the court believed me, and I have given them no other choice since we have disproven the accusation,” he stated outside the Oslo courthouse.

The defense attorney, Victoria Holmen, highlighted that their alibi was verified by the Norwegian Criminal Police Service (Kripos). Although “alibi” is not mentioned in the ruling, the Snapchat video, uncovered from a party attendee’s phone, has been pivotal.

Conversely, the victim’s attorney, Stine Rigmor Grimstad, remarked that the video evidence should not influence what occurred during the five minutes both parties spent alone in the bathroom, asserting it does not present a valid alibi. The ruling remains non-final until the appeal deadline passes.

The case dates back to July 2020, when approximately 70 people gathered for a home party. The two individuals, who were strangers prior to the event, found themselves together in the bathroom where the man claims they engaged in consensual sex, while the woman alleges she was brutally raped.

Crucially, two key pieces of technical evidence were hard to reconcile with the woman’s account. A Snapchat video timestamped at 10:12 PM shows a partygoer dancing in the bathroom, while a text message sent from the woman’s phone at 10:14 PM requests that someone come to help.

While a majority of the judges acquitted the man, they ruled he must pay 248,000 kroner in damages to the woman, reflecting a divide in opinions on the credibility of the accounts presented. Despite the acquittal, the aftermath of the incident has left significant emotional scars on both parties involved.