"Det kommer ju inte ta bort rädslan" - Aspekter av det egna valet inom ett framtida kronvittnessystem i Sverige.

Sammanfattning: This thesis examines the view of what a crown witness system could mean in terms of the witness’ willingness to testify in a criminal case. The aim was to answer how relations and emotions influence the witness’ tendency to give dictum about crimes. A further aim was to show what people with experience of meeting with witnesses think that a crown witness system applied to Swedish law, could mean for the witnesses' willingness to give their testimony in criminal law cases. A qualitative research method departing from interviews was used. Three informants who were working with witnesses were interviewed. The transcribed interviews were analysed by a thematic content analysis from three themes: code of silence, fear of testimony and crown witness. A main conclusion from the study is that emotions regarding testimony are affected by relations, expectations, and media to a wider degree than what is assumed in current procedural law and societal debate. A “code of silence” is a part of entire communities, and hence not only reserved to gangs. An individual’s willingness to witness must therefore be understood in the context of such codes. The respondents estimated that a future crown witness system would be difficult to apply. Underlying factors might still have a major impact on the willingness to give testimony which a crown witness system cannot reach.