Crime Scene Sweden on HBO Max: The Story Behind A Scream in the Night
The documentary series Crime Scene Sweden investigates one of the country's most shocking murder cases in season 12.
What is the series about?
Crime Scene Sweden (originally titled Svenska Fall) on HBO Max and Viaplay is an in-depth documentary series that reconstructs some of the most shocking and gruesome criminal cases in Sweden's history. In season 12, episode 1 titled 'A Scream in the Night' (Ett skrik i natten), viewers are taken behind the scenes of an investigation where a single witness statement about a scream in the dark becomes the focal point for solving a complex murder case. The series employs a combination of archival footage, dramatic reconstructions, and interviews with the actual investigators who worked on the case.
The real case
The real case behind 'Ett skrik i natten' draws on the Swedish police tradition of thoroughness under time pressure. Although the series covers different cases in each episode, the common thread for this specific production is the focus on the technical evidence and the legal challenges faced by the prosecution. In the studio, former Minister of Justice Thomas Bodström and star lawyer Leif Silbersky act as experts analyzing the course of the case and the mistakes that could potentially have led to an acquittal. The case illustrates how Swedish police navigate cases without immediate technical traces, where witness testimonies become crucial for the outcome of the case.
Timeline of the case
The investigation in Crime Scene Sweden spans several months, from the initial emergency call about a scream in the night to the final conviction in the Swedish legal system. Season 12 marks a continuation of the series' success in conveying complex legal material to a broad audience, which led to a nomination at the prestigious Kristallen TV awards. The episode 'A Scream in the Night' has a duration of approximately 42 minutes and closely examines the personal tragedies hidden behind the dry police reports.