Helsinki Court Dismisses Rape Charges, Orders Girl to Pay Legal Costs
The Helsinki Court of Appeal recently dismissed charges against three men described as being of “foreign origin,” who were accused of raping a 17-year-old girl who was heavily intoxicated. In a surprising turn, the court directed the girl to cover the defendants’ legal expenses, which amount to over 16,000 euros (approximately $18,300). This cost will be absorbed by the state.
Reports from Finnish Radio indicate that the young girl was hospitalized in October 2024 due to severe intoxication. Allegedly, the three men took her from the hospital to a nearby forest where the assault took place.
The court proceedings revealed that the girl entered the forest with the men voluntarily and engaged in sexual activity with them amidst the bushes. There were claims that she was interrupted by hospital security, after which she rejoined the men in another secluded area.
Interestingly, the Helsinki District Court noted that surveillance footage from the hospital suggested the girl appeared to be in a good mood and not overly intoxicated.
According to Iltaleti, the girl’s blood alcohol content was reportedly “over 2 parts per mil,” equating to a BAC of at least 0.2%, significantly higher than the legal driving limit in many places in the U.S. At such levels, individuals commonly face serious effects like impaired motor skills and confusion, heightening the risk of blackouts and memory loss. It seems her level of intoxication was apparent, as she was brought to the emergency department initially.
This raises questions about the hospital’s decision to allow a 17-year-old girl to leave with three men she had just met. A doctor involved in the case described her as being “drunk and very businesslike” before the alleged incident.
Nevertheless, it appears peculiar that the emergency room would be a site for meeting new sexual partners. There’s a broader concern here, reflected in past testimonies from rape survivors in the UK who suggested that authorities often overlooked obvious signs of distress and abuse. Reports like the Rape Gang Inquiry have highlighted how victims, particularly young girls, have faced exploitation, raising suspicions about similar patterns across various European nations regarding the protection of their own citizens.
