CEDH · PRESS;GENERAL;ENG — 20 novembre 2001

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .s5FFF0A77 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:1pt } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .sFE10DC93 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA1D3DA2E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify } .s94935B0F { width:389.85pt; display:inline-block } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .s903B0117 { margin-top:0pt; margin-left:70.9pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:-70.9pt; text-align:justify } .s63B06C77 { width:35.3pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .s38DD6A04 { width:18.2pt; display:inline-block } .sCB27B9E { width:16.66pt; display:inline-block } .sC5412BEF { width:51.05pt; display:inline-block } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } 20 EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     870   20.11.2001   Press release issued by the Registrar   HEARING IN THE CASE OF S.N. v. SWEDEN   Tuesday 20 November 2001 at 9.30 a.m.   The applicant   The case concerns an application brought by a Swedish national, S.N., who was born in 1965 and lives in Löttorp (Sweden).   Summary of the facts   The applicant was convicted of having committed sexual acts with a child, a ten-year-old boy, and sentenced to three months in prison. Except for the statements made by the boy’s mother and teacher concerning his behaviour after the alleged acts, the only evidence in the case was two police interviews with the boy. Neither the applicant nor his counsel was present at these interviews. However, the applicant’s counsel had indicated to the police officer – who conducted the second interview at the request of the counsel – certain issues to be addressed at the interview. The first interview was video-taped and the second one was recorded on audio tape. The District Court and the Court of Appeal played the recordings of the interviews at the trials. The applicant’s counsel did not request that the boy be heard in person by these courts as, allegedly, such a request would have been denied in accordance with established Swedish case-law. The Court of Appeal admitted that there was no technical evidence supporting the child’s allegations which, the court acknowledged, were sometimes imprecise. However, it found that the police interviews provided sufficient evidence for the applicant’s guilt to be established. The applicant unsuccessfully lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court.   Complaints   The applicant complained that his rights guaranteed under Article 6 § 1 (right to a fair hearing) and § 3 (d) (right to examine witnesses) of the European Convention on Human Rights had been violated.   Procedure   The application was lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 28 August 1996. On 1 November 1998 the case was transferred to the European Court of Human Rights. The Court (Former First Section) declared the application admissible on 16 January   2001.       Composition of the Court   The case will be heard by a Chamber composed as follows:   Wilhelmina Thomassen (Dutch), President , Elisabeth Palm (Swedish), Gaukur Jörundsson (Icelandic), Riza Türmen (Turkish), Corneliu Bîrsan (Romanian), Josep Casadevall (Andorran), Rait Maruste (Estonian), judges , Boštjan Zupančič (Slovenian), substitute judge ,   and also Michael O’Boyle , Section Registrar .     Representatives of the parties   Government:   Eva Jagander , Agent , Cecilia Renfors , Johan Sangborn and Charlotte Hellner , Advisers;   Applicant:   Per E. Samuelson , Counsel .   ***   After the hearing the Court will begin its deliberations, which are held in private. Judgment will be delivered at a later date.   Registry of the European Court of Human Rights F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Contacts:   Roderick Liddell (telephone: (0)3 88 41 24 92)   Emma Hellyer (telephone: (0)3 90 21 42 15) Fax: (0)3 88 41 27 91   The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. On 1 November 1998 a full-time Court was established, replacing the original two-tier system of a part-time Commission and Court.