Original subtitles

Based on real events. Details have been adapted for dramatic purposes

and all place and character names are fictitious.

-Heddesta. -Hi, it's me.

-Hi. -How are you?

So-so. How about you?

-I reported Tommy to the police. -I know.

You have to leave, Frida. That's a really toxic environment.

I didn't realise how bad it was, until I got some perspective.

It's not a good place. You have to get out.

And you're my best friend. I miss you.

I miss you too.

So leave. You can stay with me.

-I'll call you later. -Alright.

-Who was that? -The vet.

-Adils. -What did he say?

He heard the police were here.

Okay.

-Rosén. -Hi, it's Lotta.

-Do you have a minute? -Yes.

I tried to call Linda, but she hasn't called back.

The police took Tommy and they won't let me speak to him.

I'm sure Molly must have come up with some lies.

And I don't get it. After all we've done for her.

I'm sure they'll release Tommy soon,

but I don't know how I'll manage here.

-Everything is just... -Lotta, I helped Molly report him.

Molly told me and Tomas that Tommy had molested her.

But I know a bit about yours and Tommy's history...

RIDING IN DARKNESS

And the pockets...

Sit down. Take off your shoes.

Your watch.

These are completely baseless claims.

They're totally made up.

I would never in my life do something like that.

Well, you see...

This Molly is very dysfunctional, okay?

She's from an abusive home.

She's a compulsive liar. I'm sorry to have to say it,

but you really can't believe a word she says. Unfortunately.

The investigation has grown even further today.

We've received another three reports

from Bettina Hansson, Malin Broström and Linn Wenger,

concerning sexual exploitation, alternatively sexual molestation.

-Okay, I... -Wait a minute.

We can't comment on that until we've heard the interviews.

First left, then the second on the right. Welcome.

Welcome, everyone!

As you may know, Tommy Lundh has been arrested.

Four girls from Heddesta have accused him of sexual abuse.

For me, this all started

when I noticed that Molly had left Heddesta after the summer.

When I asked Tommy about it, he said she'd stolen money

and had started getting into drugs and prostitution.

I thought this sounded strange, so I called Molly and asked how she was.

She broke down and told me what she'd been through.

I went with her to the police, where she reported him,

and now Malin, Bettina and Linn have also reported Tommy.

I feel like driving up to Heddesta and just kill him.

-That fucking bastard! -So, Tommy is now in custody.

-What is Lotta saying? -She claims it's not true.

That's probably a natural reaction if you're in shock.

-And Linda? -I haven't been able to reach her.

But we talked about Molly at the open house and she also found it unlikely

that Molly would steal money.

I know that several girls just left a few years ago.

-Maybe we should contact them? -Wait.

Have you and Tomas actually seen any signs of this happening there?

I've sensed that something was off.

Hasn't Jenny ridden there for years?

And you've socialised with Tommy and Lotta?

-Yes. -Yes.

Jenny says that nothing has happened to her.

But she's told us about strange goings-on.

Such as having to spend the night there

if you wanted to join the competition team.

I've always thought he's too nice. Seems to have something to hide.

Excuse me, we're talking about Tommy as if we presume he's guilty.

We need to keep calm until we know more.

I totally agree.

You're saying that Lotta is in shock.

I'd be too, if some girls made up stories about my husband.

"Made up"?

If you'd been there when Molly told us, you wouldn't call it that.

-I'm not saying they're lying. -Then what are you saying?

Let's not judge him yet.

I agree with Tomas - Molly is very convincing.

And three more girls have reported Tommy.

Talk to your children. Have they had experiences that didn't feel good?

I talk to Sofie every week, after she's been at Heddesta.

She's told me nothing like this. On the contrary.

She's exhilarated when she gets home.

I've also watched her riding lessons from the stands

and seen how Tommy is with the girls, so...

To me, this seems totally...

-I don't believe it. -I feel the same way.

And we've already paid the tuition. 5,900 kronor...

What the hell? The bastard is in custody for sexual abuse

and you're talking about tuition?

-It's a lot of money for us. -It's a question of ethics too.

But sure, if you want your daughter...

He's in custody. Are you deaf?

I just think we shouldn't judge him yet. What's the hurry?

If it's one per cent likely that this is true,

let's get the kids out of there now!

-True. Listen to him! -But that's what I'm saying, it's...

-But listen... -Calm down, everyone. Calm down.

It's okay to have different opinions.

That's why we're here talking about it.

-Hello, Katarina. -Is Linda in?

Linda?

Hi, sorry to bother you this late. Do you have a minute?

I'll come out.

-I'm going out. -Alright.

I've tried to reach you.

Have you heard that Tommy has been arrested?

Yes, I know. I've spoken to Lotta.

Okay.

I've spent so much time there over the years,

and I've seen absolutely no signs indicating that this would be true.

I know. Neither have I.

But...had you heard Molly talk about it, you'd feel differently.

Possibly. Or I might have felt that I don't know Molly very well.

And it's my responsibility as an adult to be careful.

Your main responsibility is to go to the police

if you hear about a serious crime.

And it's not just Molly. It's three more girls.

I won't judge anyone until I know more.

Think about it. Who's been a stable girl the last few years?

Molly has no dad, her mother is an addict.

Bettina's dad is in jail. Mum remarried.

Frida has no contact with her parents.

That's the point of Heddesta.

To give girls like that a chance.

But they're easy targets, don't you see?

They have no close adults. They're sitting ducks.

Or you have your own reasons for believing this.

What do you mean?

Linda...?

I'll take it. - Lotta.

That fucking paedophile should die...

Who was it?

Somebody who...

-What did they say? -That the paedophile should die.

Hey...

It's alright.

Won't you sleep in here tonight?

Please?

Of course. Of course I will.

Thank you.

Frida, I'm hungry.

Hungry? Then how about a sandwich?

-Yes. -Yes. Come on.

-There. -I want to make my own sandwich.

Okay, you can do that.

-I want this bread. -Go on.

BASTARD

Are you coming? We're about to start.

We're not quite done here.

-But I want you to be there. -Okay.

Frida and I are going to a meeting. Go inside.

You can watch TV, read or do arts and crafts.

-But we want to finish here. -It's okay, we'll do it tomorrow.

No, we'll finish.

Okay, but go straight inside afterwards.

And you're absolutely not allowed to visit the horses.

If you need us, we're in the café.

Hello, everyone. Welcome.

You probably saw the stable wall.

I haven't had time to paint over it yet. It's been a bit much today.

I'm sure some of us here can help out with that later.

After the meeting.

Well, I'm sure you've all heard.

Molly and some other girls have reported Tommy for sexual abuse.

He's in police custody.

These are lies, of course, from beginning to end.

I can assure you that, and so can Frida.

The police will question him, soon realise that it's all lies,

and everything will go back to normal.

We're all counting on that.

Last night, someone called and shouted that they'd kill Tommy.

I unplugged the phone after three calls.

So if anyone couldn't reach me, now you know why.

This is a nightmare for you and the children. It's unbelievable.

But I think I'm speaking for all of us when I say

that we're here tonight to show you our support.

Thanks.

Mum told us not to go in.

Victoria?

It was autumn and Tommy molested you and someone else in his car.

-Who was that person? -Frida Karlsson.

It's not very easy to get hold of her.

No. Well, she still lives at Heddesta. Unless she's left now.

Do you think she'll confirm what you've told us?

Yes, because I spoke to her last week and she told me she'd call me.

-Daddy! -Oh!

-I missed you. -And I missed you.

I missed you so much.

-What have you been doing? -Sweeping.

-But not for the whole week? -No.

-Have you been playing at all? -Yes.

Good. Let's play a bit more.

Thanks for staying. Lotta wouldn't have coped without you.

-I don't know about that. -Well, I do.

You're a rock, Frida. We need you now, more than ever.

Me going to jail would be the end of Heddesta.

We'd have to sell the horses.

Some might even have to be put down.

Listen...did the police contact you?

Yes.

Hell, Frida...

You know me, right? You know I could never hurt anyone.

That's just not me. Right?

So you have to help us tell the truth to the police. Got it?

Good girl.

The papers have written about it a lot,

so there'll probably be a lot of reporters there.

What I'm worried about is having to meet him.

You won't have to.

Tommy will watch the proceedings from a separate room.

Great.

And when it's his turn, you'll do the same.

I'll be there,

but I'm not allowed inside the courtroom until I've testified.

-Right? -Exactly.

Will you have anyone else supporting you there? Mum or dad, perhaps?

-No. -My friend Nella is coming.

-Not your mum? -No.

Or I told her she couldn't. I don't want her to hear all the details.

The main hearing in case B-1514, 1991 is now in session.

That's Lotta's mother.

Gothenburg public prosecution office versus Tommy Lundh. Please, begin.

The defendant is charged with sexual exploitation,

sexual intercourse with a child and sexual molestation.

Tommy Lundh committed the crimes on several occasions

and exploited the plaintiffs' position of dependence

in a subtle and ruthless manner. Thank you.

We seek damages in the amount of 75,000 kronor to Molly Bennett,

60,000 kronor to Bettina Hansson,

10,000 kronor to Malin Broström and 4,000 kronor to Linn Wenger.

My client denies these claims.

There is no truth in these statements of deeds.

And as he has not acted in the way that the prosecution claims,

he should not pay any damages.

I started riding there when I was in year eight.

And after year nine, I became a stable girl.

What did that entail?

I took care of the horses and gave riding lessons.

Sometimes, I took care of Tommy's and Lotta's children.

-You also lived there? -Yes. And I got meals.

And some salary, but not very much.

When was the first time something happened that you found odd?

It was after my first riding competition.

When we got back, Tommy said it was time for a massage.

That they did that after every competition.

So he asked me, Frida and Bettina

to strip to the waist and lie face down on the floor.

Then he started massaging us,

but he also touched my bottom and between the legs.

-Did you bring this up with anyone? -Yes, with Lotta.

But she got angry and said it was a lie

and that I had to leave Heddesta at once.

I had nowhere to go, so I was...very upset.

But then she came back and said,

"You can stay if you promise not to lie about Tommy again."

-But it was no lie? -No. But I promised anyway.

Will you tell us about the first, more serious assault?

Tommy was giving me a riding lesson late one night.

He was angry and shouted at me the whole time.

And he forced me to ride backwards,

which made me fall off the horse several times.

-Had he been drinking? -He drank during the lesson.

Beer or spirits, I can't remember which.

And finally, Tommy left the riding arena?

Your Honour, I believe that's a leading question.

-The prosecution may continue. -Thank you.

You told the police that Tommy left the riding arena.

-What did you do after that? -I went to the tack room.

I put down my saddle and Tommy appeared behind me...

...and unbuttoned my trousers, pulled them down and then had sex with me.

What did he do with you, more precisely?

He put his fingers inside me...

...and pulled my legs apart, and then he inserted his penis.

-Did you try to make him stop? -Yes.

I said, "No, stop". But he answered, "You're going to have to take this."

What do you think he meant by that?

I think he meant that this was part of the deal.

If you work at Heddesta, you have to go along with it.

Thank you.

In a police interview on September 9, you stated

that Tommy Lundh molested you on New Year's Day of this year.

That he forced you to have sex

in the cellar of the Heddesta dwelling house.

-Yes, I said that, but... -Wait. Wait, Molly.

Did you or did you not say in a police interview

that Tommy Lundh forced you to have sex with him on New Year's Day?

Yes, I did.

Tommy actually has an alibi for that day.

He and his partner Lotta celebrated New Year in Borås...

-...together with friends. -Yes.

So that piece of information cannot be correct.

No, but...

Listen, I remember that it was winter and the day after some big party.

So I thought it was New Year,

but then I realised it could have been...

What comes after New Year?

-Twelfth Night? -Yes, that could be it.

But you're certain it was winter, and after Christmas?

Yes, I'm pretty certain.

-Perhaps Twelfth Night? -Yes.

Twelfth Day falls on January 6 every year.

On the weekend after that, January 12-13 this year,

there was a big spring term kickoff.

-Remember? -Yes, we have one every year.

You then spoke with Anneli Lundborg,

whose daughter rides at Heddesta.

-Yes, maybe I did. -Anneli recalls this very well.

You told her that you loved being at Heddesta

and wanted to work there for the rest of your life. Could that be right?

Yes, I suppose so.

But that was only a few days

after Tommy supposedly raped you in the cellar.

You told Anneli,

"I just love being at Heddesta."

-How does that add up? -Well, because...

Because we who worked there always tried to suck up to the parents.

We smiled in order to create a positive image.

Tommy did too. He's the one who told us to do it.

So what you told Anneli and the others wasn't true?

No, absolutely not.

Molly, do you...

...tend to say things that suit the purpose, even if they're not true?

-No. But... -Thank you.

-No more questions from the defence. -Thank you.

Hello, Krusse!

-Have you ever had a horse? -No.

They're such personalities.

Some are so empathetic. They can sense how you feel.

Krusse, my horse, was my best friend.

He was always there for me through my worst times.

He protected me.

What the hell?

Stop the car. She's in the paddock with Krusse. Stop!

Victoria? Get out of there!

But he's being good.

You're not allowed in there. Get out.

You're not allowed in there on your own.

Listen...

Frida told me that some boy was mean to you today.

What did he say?

Did he say that I was disgusting?

Do you know why he said that?

Because some girls have lied about me.

-Do you remember Molly? -Yes.

She's one of the girls who lied.

That's naughty.

-You shouldn't lie about people. -No.

Are you nervous about the trial?

Yes, a little.

I've compiled a few questions that you might get.

And what to answer.

Have a look after the dishes are done.

Yes.

And then let's practise together.

-I ask the questions, you answer. -Okay.

Great.

...LOTTA AND FRIDA THAT IT WAS NOT RAPE

NO ABUSE.

MEMORISE!

SPEAK CLEARLY AND NEVER HESITATE

Linn says that you, at the party, convinced her...

-...to take a walk in the fresh air. -That's a lie.

Several witnesses confirm that you left the house together.

I presume that's Bettina, but she's part of this conspiracy.

No, several witnesses.

The prosecution refers to witnesses who will not be heard.

Duly noted.

-Please, continue. -Thank you.

Tommy, you and Linn were seen leaving the house

by Bettina, among others.

Well, perhaps we went out to get some more soda.

Then Linn says that you tried to kiss her and pull down her trousers.

That's totally made up. I would never...

Anyone who knows me would tell you that's impossible.

I would never... I'm not like that.

But then Lotta drove up and interrupted you.

Hang on. So Lotta is out driving aimlessly on a Saturday evening?

Wait, Tommy. Molly confirms this.

She says that when Linn got back to the cottage she was very distraught.

So Molly and Bettina confirms this?

Both of them part of this gang. No one else? How about Frida,

who lived with Molly in the cottage? What does she say?

The defence, please?

When Molly came to Heddesta,

what was your first impression of her?

Good. She is a girl with her head screwed on.

Capable, fearless, good at riding.

And what was the relationship like between the two of you?

It was good.

-Perhaps a bit too good. -How do you mean?

I noticed very early on that Molly was attracted to me.

There's nothing strange about that, it happens all the time.

Girls often fall for their instructor.

But I also know that it's not about me personally...

...but about my role, about what I represent.

Because these young girls really love horses.

I know a lot about horses, so they fall in love me.

This thing you're telling us now, how did it manifest in Molly?

Well, she used to linger in the riding arena after the lessons.

She wanted to be alone with me.

Glances, touching...

Jealousy towards the other girls,

if I said something appreciative to them.

How did you handle this situation?

When I notice these types of signals,

I make sure to keep a proper distance.

I try to avoid bodily contact.

I try to avoid anything that could be interpreted as interest on my part.

-You said that this is common? -Relatively common, yes.

But regarding Molly,

did anything about her stand out compared with the others?

Yes, I do have to say that. I think she had...

...a very vulgar way of making jokes and talking,

which is not very common with sixteen-year-olds.

It was very often about sex, and so on.

She liked showing off naked. She'd walk around in her underwear.

Lotta and I talked about it many times.

We thought it didn't seem quite normal.

We presumed it had to do with her childhood.

-In what way? -Molly comes from a broken home.

An addictive mother and...

The plaintiff's background is irrelevant.

The defence disagrees. This is about the credibility of the plaintiff.

I ask you to keep to the subject.

-Please, continue. -Tommy...

...when you, so to speak, withdrew from Molly, what was her reaction?

Most girls can handle a rejection,

if you're being clear enough, but she got very...

...incredibly jealous and...

And then money started disappearing from our office.

After a while we realised that it could only be Molly.

A lot of money?

No, certainly not.

And I honestly don't think it was about the money, really.

I think it was a way of trying to get back at me.

But, well...

We realised we couldn't let her stay, so we asked Molly to leave Heddesta.

Did you and Lotta think that the matter was settled with that?

Yes, of course. That's what we thought.

And then came these accusations from Molly and three other girls.

What was your reaction to that?

Shock, naturally. It's...

This has been a nightmare for both me and Lotta.

For the whole family.

I can't imagine anything more awful.

I see. Do you have any thoughts

about the fact that

these police reports were filed almost simultaneously?

Hundreds of people ride at Heddesta.

Some of them are bound to be unhappy about something,

so that you can...

...bamboozle them into doing this.

You mean that those who reported you are lying?

They're lying.

But I also want to say that I don't think Molly is alone in this.

She's not that hardened. No, she was assisted

by certain parents with their own reasons

for wanting to destroy our business. That's disturbing.

If you want to find the real culprit, that's where you should look.

-I, Frida Karlsson... -"I, Frida Karlsson..."

...do solemnly declare and affirm...

"...do solemnly declare and affirm..."

-...to tell the whole truth... -"...to tell the whole truth..."

...without omitting, adding or changing anything.

"...without omitting, adding or changing anything."

Thank you.

The defence may begin.

Frida, you and Molly lived together, is that right?

Yes, in the cottage.

And you were best friends?

Yes, we were together night and day.

What's your view

on Molly's claims about Tommy Lundh having molested her

more or less every week for a whole year?

It's not true.

-Are you quite sure? -Yes.

Like I said, we were always together. I would have noticed.

Molly has also said that she, you and Bettina

started a pact for the purpose that none of you

would ever be left alone with Tommy.

-Is that right? -That's not true.

-That's also not true? -No.

In one of the interviews with Molly, she has described

something that was supposed to have happened in the car.

It was in the autumn. Tommy drove you into the forest

and had sex with you both

in the back seat of his car, one after the other.

What is your comment to that?

It's not true.

-So that's also a lie? -Yes.

Thank you. I have no more questions.

Thank you. The prosecution may begin.

Thank you.

Frida...

...do you know what perjury means?

Yes.

Lying in a courtroom is a serious crime.

I'm not lying.

Someone is lying, we know that.

It's either you or the four girls who have accused Tommy.

You still live and work at Heddesta.

Would you really dare to tell the truth...

...if Tommy had molested Molly and you?

I have told the truth.

Molly was your best friend, Frida.

Take this chance to tell us exactly what happened.

I'm not lying.

"The 38-year-old riding instructor and his lawyer claim

that the accusations are part of a conspiracy

by the girls and parents."

That's brilliant!

"Friday saw the beginning of the trial against the man

who stands accused of sexually abusing his riding pupils."

RIDING INSTRUCTOR DENIES ABUSES

Good morning!

Did you sleep well?

Everything went wrong. I should never have reported him.

-Rosén. -Is this Katarina?

Yes.

My name is Louise. I was a pupil at Heddesta a few years ago.

-When your daughter started there. -Right, I remember.

I'd like to speak to the police. About Tommy.

Subtitles by Annika Yberg Svensk Medietext