I am shocked that the Eastern High Court has a waiting period of one year and four months from the verdict in the case against Philip Westh for, among other things, the murder of Emilie Meng until the appeal starts in the high court. Judgment was handed down in the district court on 28 July 2024 and the appeal case in the high court is scheduled to begin on 28 October 2025.
For all parties, such long waiting times are completely unacceptable. And also in the district court there are incredibly long waiting times, it’s just harder to measure in relation to appeals.
For the families of the victims, it must be depressing that cases drag on for so long. For the police and prosecutors, it is demotivating and the precision of witness statements diminishes. It is not fair for the defendant either, because it unfortunately happens from time to time that people are found guilty in the district court and acquitted in the high court, because the defendant is actually innocent.
If the politicians want to do something for legal certainty, the sense of justice and strengthen citizens’ trust in the legal system, then they will have to do something about the insanely long waiting times. And in the future, when gang packages are adopted, harsher punishments are adopted, and money is set aside for a more efficient police, then money and personnel should accompany the courts and prisons. Otherwise there will be constant blockages in the system.
Posted by andresen1976