Hannes Råstam

Hannes Råstam was a Swedish investigative journalist and musician whose reporting scrutinized failures in criminal justice. Working for Sveriges Television's Uppdrag granskning, he examined the confessions and convictions associated with Thomas Quick and demonstrated serious weaknesses in the accepted account. Fallet Thomas Quick developed that investigation into a book-length study of false confessions, institutional decisions, and a major Swedish judicial scandal. Råstam completed most of the manuscript before his death in January 2012; journalist and publisher Mattias Göransson helped prepare the remaining material for publication later that year. Swedish Radio and SVT both describe Råstam's sustained investigative work and the recognition it received, including major journalism awards. The book is closely tied to that professional record rather than being a detached retelling. By reconstructing interviews, evidence, and official actions, Fallet Thomas Quick shows how Råstam combined broadcast inquiry with documentary writing. It also became the culminating work of a career defined by patient challenges to powerful institutions and established public narratives.