Authentic audio recordings bring the courtroom to listeners

What does it feel like to be a fly on the wall during intense interrogation sessions where entire lives are dramatically changed for those on trial? Rättegångspodden, a Swedish documentary podcast series, offers listeners a soul-stirring experience by bringing authentic audio recordings from courtrooms and police interrogations directly to their headphones. The series launched in 2017 and now boasts over 150 episodes that delve into cases such as 'Hedersmordet i Mölnlycke', where a young woman was brutally murdered by her ex-husband. This powerful narrative combines court documents with detailed accounts, inviting listeners into the most delicate moments of truths and lies. Nils Bergman, the podcast's creator and host, steers with care while Tall Tale and Lexbase handle the production, and Acast and Spotify ensure distribution to streaming platforms.

The ethical dilemma behind using public material

Deep within the details of the cases, Rättegångspodden reveals both its strengths and vulnerabilities. The use of publicly available material has sparked criticism from victims' families, who feel their personal tragedies are turned into mere entertainment. Despite Nils Bergman's defense of removing identifying details, the use of intimate witness statements and personal letters, as in the episode on 'Mordet på Lisa Holm,' which quoted a suicide note without consent, highlighted ethical issues. Still, this intimate storytelling method can be seen as a strength, as it sheds light on the nuances of the legal system and the complexity of evidence. This pushes the podcast to ethical limits but also opens up a critical view of how criminal cases and trials are handled and perceived by society and the media.

The true crime genre challenges the legal system and journalism

Rättegångspodden is at the forefront of a wave of true crime productions that demand attention to both the structure of the legal system and the media's power to shape public perception. With over 173,000 weekly listeners and recipient of the Svenska Poddradiopriset in 2016, the podcast starts a necessary debate on journalism, legal reporting, and ethics. Its sales model through Lexbase, where listeners can access free verdicts, has attracted criticism while highlighting the commercial side of legal databases, which some consider problematic. This dynamic between information and exploitation raises the question: How can the true crime genre evolve to respect victims while challenging us to understand the many facets of justice and ethical considerations in modern crime journalism?

Listen to Rättegångspodden at open.spotify.com – and follow KrimiNyt for more in-depth true crime analyses.