Calle Jonsson
Encyclopedia
Calle Jonsson is a Swedish citizen born in Långträsk, Piteå
who was arrested in July 2001 on the Greek
island of Kos
, accused of attempted murder. His case was one of Sweden's most known and reported criminal cases. After two trials, Jonsson was acquitted of all charges in 2011.
, Greece—while on holiday. Serdaris lost consciousness after he had been stabbed five times in the thigh, and three times in the chest and abdomen. Jonsson denied all charges against him from the time he was arrested. He was in custody until February 2002 when he was released on bail and returned to Sweden. In November 2003, a Swedish court ruled that he must return to Greece to face trial. Jonsson's family told the newspaper Aftonbladet
that Serdaris had sought a payoff of , and began the legal proceedings when the family refused to pay. Jonsson decided not to attend the trial, as he said he did not trust the Greek justice system.
In the autumn 2004 Greece decided to have Jonsson extradited to the country via an European arrest warrant
. The Swedish Supreme Court granted the request in November 2004. The request marked the first time Sweden was compelled to extradite a citizen under a 2004 law requiring European Union
member states to trust each other's legal systems. An earlier extradition attempt had failed when Greece's parliament did not ratify the European arrest warrant legislation.
Jonsson was handed over to the Greek courts in January 2005 after he had appealed the ruling to all Swedish authorities. During the trial held on the isle of Rhodes
, the prosecution described a fight between Jonsson and Serdaris. Serdaris claimed that Jonsson had attacked him. DNA
evidence showed that Serdaris's blood was on the shirt Jonsson was wearing at the time of the alleged attack. Jonsson claimed that the Greek police had smeared his shirt with Serdaris's blood in an attempt to frame him. Greek police did not examine the crime scene. According to Jonsson's attorney, Leif Silbersky
, the Greek police had placed Jonsson's clothes in the same drawer as Serdaris's clothes, causing DNA contamination. The clothing was held in Kos after the attack but was not analyzed before the trial; in fact, the clothes were not moved from Kos to the courtroom in Rhodes until the prosecutor requested an adjournment to have them brought in. Silbersky also pointed out that Serdaris did not identify Jonsson as his attacker at the time of the incident. When Serdaris was first shown Jonsson, Serdaris said that Jonsson could not be the person who attacked him.
Georgios Economou, the prosecutor, said that Jonsson was found lying under Sedaris, which could have indicated Jonsson stabbed him in self-defense, according to Economou. Economou also noted Jonsson's youth and lack of fluency in Greek. Accordingly, Economou recommended a mild sentence. Jonsson faced a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, which, per the terms of his extradition agreement, would have been served in a Swedish prison.
On 12 April 2005, the jury unanimously found Jonsson not guilty. He was released immediately. Serdaris's lawyer announced plans to appeal.
ruled that Jonsson must be retried. The ruling stated, "We wonder how the t-shirt came into contact with the stabbed person's shoes and trousers." The Swedish Foreign Ministry described the court's order as "extremely surprising".
The trial was supposed to begin on 19 November 2007 but was postponed when Jonsson failed to appear. Jonsson's lawyer Silbersky had advised him not to attend; if he had appeared voluntarily and were found guilty, he would have served his sentence in a Greek jail. If the Greek authorities were forced to issue a European arrest warrant for him, he would have the option to serve his sentence in a Swedish prison. A strike by lawyers in Greece also contributed to the postponement.
In April 2009, Greek officials charged Jonsson and his parents with perjury, false statement, and aggravated defamation. Silbersky called the charges "absolutely ridiculous", saying that the case had become a matter of prestige for the Greek officials.
In June 2011, the Rhodes court unanimously acquitted Jonsson of all charges.
Piteå
Piteå is a locality and the seat of Piteå Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden. The town has 22,650 inhabitants out of a municipal total of 41,000 in 2008.- Geography :...
who was arrested in July 2001 on the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
island of Kos
Kos
Kos or Cos is a Greek island in the south Sporades group of the Dodecanese, next to the Gulf of Gökova/Cos. It measures by , and is from the coast of Bodrum, Turkey and the ancient region of Caria. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Kos peripheral unit, which is...
, accused of attempted murder. His case was one of Sweden's most known and reported criminal cases. After two trials, Jonsson was acquitted of all charges in 2011.
Detention and first trial
Jonsson was arrested on the island of Kos on 26 July 2001, accused of attacking Christoforos Serdaris—a waiter from ThessalonikiThessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Greece—while on holiday. Serdaris lost consciousness after he had been stabbed five times in the thigh, and three times in the chest and abdomen. Jonsson denied all charges against him from the time he was arrested. He was in custody until February 2002 when he was released on bail and returned to Sweden. In November 2003, a Swedish court ruled that he must return to Greece to face trial. Jonsson's family told the newspaper Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet is a Swedish tabloid founded by Lars Johan Hierta in 1830 during the modernization of Sweden. It is one of the larger daily newspapers in the Nordic countries. Aftonbladet is owned by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and Norwegian media group Schibsted, and its editorial page...
that Serdaris had sought a payoff of , and began the legal proceedings when the family refused to pay. Jonsson decided not to attend the trial, as he said he did not trust the Greek justice system.
In the autumn 2004 Greece decided to have Jonsson extradited to the country via an European arrest warrant
European Arrest Warrant
The European Arrest Warrant is an arrest warrant valid throughout all member states of the European Union . Once issued by a member state, it requires the receiving member state to arrest and transfer a criminal suspect or sentenced person to the issuing state so that the person can be put on...
. The Swedish Supreme Court granted the request in November 2004. The request marked the first time Sweden was compelled to extradite a citizen under a 2004 law requiring European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
member states to trust each other's legal systems. An earlier extradition attempt had failed when Greece's parliament did not ratify the European arrest warrant legislation.
Jonsson was handed over to the Greek courts in January 2005 after he had appealed the ruling to all Swedish authorities. During the trial held on the isle of Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
, the prosecution described a fight between Jonsson and Serdaris. Serdaris claimed that Jonsson had attacked him. DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
evidence showed that Serdaris's blood was on the shirt Jonsson was wearing at the time of the alleged attack. Jonsson claimed that the Greek police had smeared his shirt with Serdaris's blood in an attempt to frame him. Greek police did not examine the crime scene. According to Jonsson's attorney, Leif Silbersky
Leif Silbersky
Leif Silbersky is a well-known Swedish lawyer and author, living in Stockholm.He is notable for taking many high-profile cases which have enjoyed large media attention, making him one of the most noted lawyers in Sweden....
, the Greek police had placed Jonsson's clothes in the same drawer as Serdaris's clothes, causing DNA contamination. The clothing was held in Kos after the attack but was not analyzed before the trial; in fact, the clothes were not moved from Kos to the courtroom in Rhodes until the prosecutor requested an adjournment to have them brought in. Silbersky also pointed out that Serdaris did not identify Jonsson as his attacker at the time of the incident. When Serdaris was first shown Jonsson, Serdaris said that Jonsson could not be the person who attacked him.
Georgios Economou, the prosecutor, said that Jonsson was found lying under Sedaris, which could have indicated Jonsson stabbed him in self-defense, according to Economou. Economou also noted Jonsson's youth and lack of fluency in Greek. Accordingly, Economou recommended a mild sentence. Jonsson faced a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, which, per the terms of his extradition agreement, would have been served in a Swedish prison.
On 12 April 2005, the jury unanimously found Jonsson not guilty. He was released immediately. Serdaris's lawyer announced plans to appeal.
Retrial
In November 2006, the Greek Court of CassationCourt of Cassation (Greece)
The Court of Cassation is the Supreme Court of Greece for civil and criminal law. The Court of Cassation's decisions are irrevocable. If the Court of Cassation concludes that a lower court violated the law or the principles of the procedure, then it can order the rehearing of the case by the lower...
ruled that Jonsson must be retried. The ruling stated, "We wonder how the t-shirt came into contact with the stabbed person's shoes and trousers." The Swedish Foreign Ministry described the court's order as "extremely surprising".
The trial was supposed to begin on 19 November 2007 but was postponed when Jonsson failed to appear. Jonsson's lawyer Silbersky had advised him not to attend; if he had appeared voluntarily and were found guilty, he would have served his sentence in a Greek jail. If the Greek authorities were forced to issue a European arrest warrant for him, he would have the option to serve his sentence in a Swedish prison. A strike by lawyers in Greece also contributed to the postponement.
In April 2009, Greek officials charged Jonsson and his parents with perjury, false statement, and aggravated defamation. Silbersky called the charges "absolutely ridiculous", saying that the case had become a matter of prestige for the Greek officials.
In June 2011, the Rhodes court unanimously acquitted Jonsson of all charges.