Legislator Case Law & Legislation
KA 02 159 • KG LU KA 02 159 AI generated

Complainant Withdrawal and Defense Costs in Minor Offense Case

Case Number KA 02 159
Court / Authority
Jurisdiction Switzerland · Canton of Lucerne (CH-LU)
Decision Date
Outcome Allowed / Granted

Legislator summary

AI generated

The court reviewed a case where a private complainant withdrew a minor offense charge (parking violation) after an investigation, leading the lower authority to refuse the defense costs compensation to the accused because the matter was considered a "trivial offense" where self-representation should have been possible. The appellate court overturned this decision, reasoning that even in minor cases, "special circumstances" can justify awarding party compensation, specifically noting that the investigation proceeded beyond the initial filing to include interrogations of the accused and a witness, and the complainant refused attempts to clarify the misunderstanding, making it unfair to deny compensation for the expenses incurred by the accused's legal representation during these further procedural steps.

Legislator headnote

Official

§ 278 Abs. 2 StPO; § 57 lit. a KoV. Besondere Umstände können auch in Bagatellfällen die Zusprache einer Parteientschädigung rechtfertigen. | Strafprozessrecht

Keywords

AI generated
minor offense costs of investigation defense costs procedural violations withdrawal of criminal complaint witness compensation

Cited Legislation

AI generated

Cited Case Law

AI generated
BGE 116 Ia 174
BGE 110 Ia 159
AI generated

Key legal questions extracted by Legislator

AI generated
§ 278 Abs. 2 StPO

The provision used to obligate the private claimant, who withdrew the criminal charge, to pay adequate compensation to the accused.

§ 57 lit. a KoV

Cited in the decision as part of the legal basis, supporting the justification for granting a party indemnity in minor cases under special circumstances.

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Full text

Rechtsprechung Luzern

Instanz: · Obergericht

Abteilung: · Kriminal- und Anklagekommission

Rechtsgebiet: · Strafprozessrecht

Entscheiddatum: · 29.01.2003

Fallnummer: · KA 02 159

LGVE: · 2003 I Nr. 73

Leitsatz: · § 278 Abs. 2 StPO; § 57 lit. a KoV. Besondere Umstände können auch in Bagatellfällen die Zusprache einer Parteientschädigung rechtfertigen.

Rechtskraft: · Diese Entscheidung ist rechtskräftig.