Beltran demands retrial in rape case
Swedish-Chilean opera singer and convicted rapist Tito Beltran has submitted a petition for a retrial in the Supreme Court. Beltran claims that former justice minister Thomas Bodström's involvement in the case amounted to a breach of the constitution.
Beltran's legal counsel, Pelle Svensson, argues in the petition that there were several procedural irregularities in the court trial, according to the crimenews.se website.
Svensson argues that it was wrong for a witness, the actor Maria Lundqvist, to collect evidence against the defendant.
He argues that had the court learned of Lundqvist's private surveillance of Beltran then she would not have been permitted as a witness.
Beltran's defence lawyer also strongly criticizes the action of former justice minister Thomas Bodström.
"Here the Supreme Court should consider whether the representative for the government is allowed to participate in an ongoing legal case," Svensson said to crimenews.se.
Bodström is on record as stating that Beltran was guilty before the trial began. The former minister and now celebrity lawyer is accused of misusing his position of power to influence the outcome of the case.
Tito Beltran was convicted in October 2008 on charges of rape and sexually molesting a child. The opera singer was sentenced to two and half years imprisonment.
The case referred to two separate sex offences - the rape of an 18-year-old girl in a hotel in southern Sweden during the Rhapsody in Rock concert tour in 1999, and the sexual molestation of a six-year-old girl in Halland in the beginning of the 2000s.
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Beltran's legal counsel, Pelle Svensson, argues in the petition that there were several procedural irregularities in the court trial, according to the crimenews.se website.
Svensson argues that it was wrong for a witness, the actor Maria Lundqvist, to collect evidence against the defendant.
He argues that had the court learned of Lundqvist's private surveillance of Beltran then she would not have been permitted as a witness.
Beltran's defence lawyer also strongly criticizes the action of former justice minister Thomas Bodström.
"Here the Supreme Court should consider whether the representative for the government is allowed to participate in an ongoing legal case," Svensson said to crimenews.se.
Bodström is on record as stating that Beltran was guilty before the trial began. The former minister and now celebrity lawyer is accused of misusing his position of power to influence the outcome of the case.
Tito Beltran was convicted in October 2008 on charges of rape and sexually molesting a child. The opera singer was sentenced to two and half years imprisonment.
The case referred to two separate sex offences - the rape of an 18-year-old girl in a hotel in southern Sweden during the Rhapsody in Rock concert tour in 1999, and the sexual molestation of a six-year-old girl in Halland in the beginning of the 2000s.
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