Man Sentenced After Causing Woman's Cardiac Arrest During BDSM Activity

A serious incident occurred in early 2024 when a woman suffered a cardiac arrest during an intimate encounter involving choking with her partner. The couple had previously engaged in such activities with an agreed-upon safety signal, but this particular instance took a dangerous turn.

Upon realizing the woman had lost consciousness, the man initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until emergency services arrived, successfully reviving her. She subsequently required an extended hospitalization for her injuries.

The man, in his mid-twenties, faced charges of assault and gross bodily harm but denied any wrongdoing.

During the trial, a key issue was whether the act of choking could be considered criminal given that the woman had consented to participate in the activity. The prosecution argued that the level of choking was so severe that the woman could not have genuinely consented to it.

However, the court concluded that the woman's consent was irrelevant in this case. The defendant was found guilty of intentionally causing the woman to experience asphyxia but was not deemed to have intended the severe injuries that occurred. The court acknowledged the man's actions in saving the woman's life and his voluntary surrender to authorities.

Taking these factors into account, the man was sentenced to probation and mandated to adhere to a treatment plan. Additionally, he was ordered to pay the woman 219,565 kronor in damages.

The court emphasized that its ruling did not make a judgment on what might be permissible during consensual sexual acts between adults. Instead, the decision was focused solely on the specifics of this particular case.