Prime Minister Can Still Be Called as a Witness in Assault Case
Earlier today, several news outlets reported that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen would not be called as a witness in the case of the assault on her on June 7. But now there are new updates from defense lawyer Henrik Karl Nielsen, indicating that the Prime Minister may still be called as a witness.
Henrik Karl Nielsen, who is the defense lawyer for the 39-year-old Polish man accused in the case, explains that it is up to him as the defense lawyer to decide whether the Prime Minister should be called as a witness, despite the prosecution choosing not to do so.
“It is also up to me as the defense lawyer to request that people can be called as witnesses. I have not yet decided whether it will be relevant to request that the Prime Minister be called,” he writes in a text message.
Henrik Karl Nielsen is still considering whether it would be advantageous for his client for the Prime Minister to testify in the case. “It can also provide opportunities for a defense lawyer that the person involved in the case is not present,” he says. Thus, he dismisses earlier reports that it is certain that the Prime Minister will not speak. “She can,” he adds.
The defense lawyer believes that the prosecution is taking a risk by not summoning Mette Frederiksen. This is due to the uncertainty about what exactly happened during the assault.
The Prime Minister was examined at Rigshospitalet on the same evening as the assault took place. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, she suffered from whiplash, as described in the medical report prepared at Rigshospitalet. The report states: “Contusion right shoulder, and minor distorsion cervicalcolumna (whiplash).” Whiplash is the same as whiplash.
The full medical report is now part of the case, Henrik Karl Nielsen informs. However, nearly two weeks later, it was revealed in court through a police certificate that the Prime Minister no longer suffered from whiplash, but only had general soreness in her arm and shoulder.
“When there is also doubt about what happened to her, it is a gamble from the prosecution’s side not to summon her. We have not even seen a photo of a bruise or anything else. So maybe nothing serious happened. Everyone can be happy about that,” he writes.
The case is scheduled for trial on August 6-7.