One of the five women who reported Danish comedian Jonatan Spang to police last year has now been charged herself in the same case.
DR reported on Thursday, September 10, that a new turn has emerged in the criminal case against the comedian and television host. According to DR, which cites Ritzau, one of the five complainants is now charged in the case where Spang is the injured party.
The charge was confirmed by attorney Julie Stage, who is Spang’s defense lawyer. She said she could not disclose what the charges concern, out of regard for the continued police investigation, as reported by TV 2.
Copenhagen Police would neither confirm nor deny that another person has been charged in the case, according to DR.
The case against Spang
The comedian, actor and host, now 48, was reported to police last year by five women. The complaints concerned sexual assault, rape, or violence of a physical or psychological nature.
The case gained wide attention in September last year, when it emerged that Spang had been dismissed as host of the DR program “Tæt på sandheden” following allegations of abuse. The alleged incident took place in 2009 and involved a girl who was 15 at the time. Spang was 31.
Spang wrote on Instagram that he should have acted more responsibly and never begun a relationship with someone so young. The following month, after reports of a further complaint, he wrote that he did not recognize the accusations. He added that he had nothing more to say before police had examined them.
Unclear what the charges concern
According to Ritzau’s information, the woman who has been charged did not report Spang for a sexual offense. Spang does not wish to comment on the latest development, his lawyer told Ritzau.
Ritzau contacted attorney Mette Maria Lorentzen, who has been appointed as defense counsel for the charged woman. She would neither confirm nor deny that role, saying she could not comment on the case. It therefore remains unknown how the woman responds to the charges.
Defendants are generally assigned a defense lawyer in criminal cases where imprisonment of more than 30 days is a possibility. An appointment means the court has designated the lawyer for the case.
Copenhagen City Court ruled on June 4 that the five women could not share the same victim’s counsel, attorney Helle Hald, according to Politiken. The ruling came after Stage raised concerns that the women could influence each other or align their statements.
Spang remains charged in relation to the complaints from the five women. Stage declined to comment on whether the latest development has any bearing on those charges.
