• Sweden edition

Knife man gets reduced sentence after dog bite to testicles

Published: 28 May 09 11:04 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19714/20090528/

A 32-year-old man in southern Sweden found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend has been granted a lower than usual sentence because of the suffering caused when he was bitten in the testicles by the woman's Rottweiler.

Helsingborg District Court sentenced the man to one and a half years in jail for aggravated assault after finding him guilty of stabbing his ex-girlfriend twice from behind with a knife. The court said he would have received a longer sentence had he not been severely bitten in course of the melee.

The attack took place on March 31st at an apartment in the southern Swedish city. According to the woman's version of events, her Rottweiler snapped into action after her assailant had begun wielding a knife, local newspaper Helsingborgs Dagblad reports.

During the attack the dog was stabbed twice in the throat, but not before it had succeeded in inflicting serious damage on the 32-year-old's scrotum.

The man in his turn claimed that his ex-girlfriend had set her dog on him and that he had acted in self-defence when he chose to stab the animal. He also denied stabbing his former girlfriend.

The court rejected both the self-defence claim and the assertion that he had not attacked the woman with a knife.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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11:21 May 28, 2009 by Miss Kitten
I'm a bit confused here. This guy who attacked his girlfriend with a knife was given a reduced sentence because his girlfriend's dog attacked his crotch? Why? The dog was obviously protecting his owner.
11:24 May 28, 2009 by nolaroger
The man stabbed both his girlfriend and her dog, then got his sentence reduced for a bite to his balls? What if his face got scratched by the women in self defense, take a week off his sentence? Maybe he got her blood on his expensive designer jeans, maybe SHE should have to pay for the cleaning. Ridiculous!

The dog should get a medal, and be allowed to complete the job he started.
11:32 May 28, 2009 by Bra_billie_boy
Crazy legal system!
13:01 May 28, 2009 by Kooritze
Things get wierder by the day here in Sweden. A man who assaults another person, stabs her, then her dog retaliates by giving a nice bite to the man,s testicles, the dog gets stabbed twice.......and due to injuries incurred during the scuffle to the testicles in question the, the attacker gets a reduced sentence. Has April fools day been forwarded?

What a good dog!!!!
13:20 May 28, 2009 by Tennin
I agree crazy legal system. The dog did a great job in protecting his owner. Yet because of that the man gets a reduced sentence!?! What the @*$&!?!

Too bad the woman can't take the guy back to court for animal cruelity for stabbing her dog.
14:00 May 28, 2009 by Steggles
And what sentence did the the dog get? Death!

It deserves a bravery award.
14:33 May 28, 2009 by eZee.se
I dont know if its the law or the judge's here who are dumb but this verdict is just crazy.

people if you dont have corrupt and biased judges (TPB) you have morons passing judgment?

and then you wonder why there is little to no respect for the law.
14:44 May 28, 2009 by spy
Meanwhile back at the Swedish funny farm. . .
15:50 May 28, 2009 by Harding00
*shakes head* I don't even know how to comment on this...I feel like a broken record every time I read one of these crazy stories and reply that the criminal justice system here is crap...
16:00 May 28, 2009 by Mzungu
Just goes to show that local journalists have sod all else interesting or logical to report,exempting to sit in some out-of the-way court room listening to outrageous stories....

*perhaps they sell papers?*
17:12 May 28, 2009 by Holecutter > The Howl From Hell
Good dog.......................I hope they taste good.
17:17 May 28, 2009 by amira helenius
and may be after half of the time they will let him free because he was behaving good in Jail!!!

Poor woman and poor dog who didn't get the reward they deserve, I don't like the punishment system here!
17:54 May 28, 2009 by CHL0E
Confused by the news... and plus, that dog on the pic is not a Rottweiler...
17:59 May 28, 2009 by freethinker
Tennin, actually you had a great idea. Why can't the woman take the guy back to court for animal cruelty?
19:20 May 28, 2009 by spy
Apparently the judge was initially aiming for a conviction for 'attempted dog-rape' but statistically in Sweden it is hard to get a guilty verdict on any sexual assault and as a consequence the judge completely reversed the charges and let him out early.

It is pretty easy to follow when you are in tune with the Swedish legal system.

The immigrant dog has since been deported back to Germany with its tail between its legs and a degree from a fake Swedish university.

The End.
19:26 May 28, 2009 by Miss Kitten
Yes, but was dog was the perpetrator or the victim of the attempted rape? Bestiality is legal here in Sweden and it would be kind of difficult to make a dog rape charge stick here since there's no way to prove the dog said no. The other thing (attempted rape by a dog) is probably legal as well. If it weren't then every leg-humper would have to be prosecuted.
20:12 May 28, 2009 by Soft Boiled
Im surprised the woman didnt recieve a longer sentence than the perp. Isnt that the swedish law systems way? protect the guilty as much as you can.. and ow deary dont send them to prison.. they might not feel well
20:17 May 28, 2009 by spy
Miss Kitten that is fantastic!! You know lots about Swedish law.

Please tell me: A dog once humped my leg do I have grounds to sue it? And if I win can I expect a large payout or would I have to make do with the satisfaction that the beast will get what it deserves?

I should tell you it was some time ago though.
20:25 May 28, 2009 by Miss Kitten
In that case, I'd say that the statute of limitations has already expired, particularly if the leg-humper in question is now deceased. Just how long ago are we talking?
20:38 May 28, 2009 by spy
About 24 years.
22:54 May 28, 2009 by insect
An idea. Everyone should get a dog (preferrably rotweiller since they have proven their ability) and train it to be lethal in these matters. Instead of just biting, make sure the stuff comes lose...........just in case.
08:40 May 29, 2009 by jacks
This is not justice. What was his intention of keeping knife while meeting girlfriend ? It may be that holding knife was main provocative factor for violent crime.

Nowhere, but in Sweden criminals would get such favor.
23:42 May 31, 2009 by Coalbanks
Sue the eunuch for damages to the dog! PS Pic might be of a Rotti - cross, no? Sounds like Swedish judges need to spend some time working in other jurisdictions for some international experience.
11:57 June 4, 2009 by hardwood
If only the rottweiler chewed off the dude's balls then he'll never have the balls to wield a knife ever again.

Way to go K9!
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