17-year-old risks many years in prison for gang murder

That children who commit gang murders are sentenced to long prison terms is on the way to becoming the new normal in Sweden. A teenager charged with a fatal restaurant shooting may be the latest. A new sentencing aggravation rule plays a crucial role in the development.

» Updated: October 02 2024

» Published: September 16 2024

17-year-old risks many years in prison for gang murder
Photo: Polisen

The charcoal grill at Fittja center south of Stockholm will soon close, the clock has passed nine and only five guests remain in the premises. At 21.16, the first alarm about loud bangs is triggered.

On surveillance footage from the area, the police will later see how three dark-clad, masked individuals approach the restaurant just before the shooting on March 21. One of them is armed with an automatic carbine, another with a revolver.

Both weapons are fired into the restaurant, in the direction of three guests sitting and eating at a table at the back of the premises. One of them is a 27-year-old man who flees towards the staff toilet further in. He is later found there with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.

Three charged

Three teenage boys arrested in the vicinity shortly afterwards are later charged in August for committing the murder together and in concert.

Whether the man who was killed was the intended target has not been established, but according to prosecutor Niksa Lucic, the circumstances of the murder suggest that it took place in a gang context.

When the trial concluded, he demanded life imprisonment for the one of the defendants who was 19 at the time of the murder. The other two were minors, 16 and 17 years old. Previously, they would likely have received closed youth care if convicted, but now prosecutors in gang cases often demand imprisonment even for individuals who are legally considered children.

For the 17-year-old who I claim fired the fatal shot with an automatic weapon, I have demanded eight years' imprisonment, says Lucic, who also demanded imprisonment for the other boy.

One reason why imprisonment is increasingly being demanded for children, and why courts are also imposing it, is the tougher penalties for gang crimes introduced last summer, according to Lucic.

Criminal settlements

Then, a new type of sentencing aggravation was introduced, targeting violent settlements among criminals. According to this, factors such as the use of firearms and crimes on public premises should be considered as particularly aggravating when determining sentences.

This means that courts now often consider that there are "special reasons" for imposing imprisonment instead of closed youth care for individuals under 18.

It is primarily this legislative change that makes it possible, I believe, to impose imprisonment even on those under 18 years old, says Lucic.

All three have denied the murder. The verdict will be delivered on Tuesday.

On July 1, 2023, a new type of sentencing aggravation was introduced, targeting violent settlements among criminals.

As "particularly aggravating circumstances" when assessing the sentence value, it shall be considered whether the crime has involved a serious attack on someone's life or health or personal safety and

1. has involved the use of firearms or explosives or similar substances and was committed on public premises or at another location where people usually gather or have gathered,

2. or has been based on or was intended to provoke a conflict between groups of people in which firearms or explosives or similar substances are used.

Source: 29 chap. 2 a § Criminal Code

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Injured Person in Norrköping Sparks
1 MIN READ

Injured Person in Norrköping Sparks Police Crime Investigation

Police Car and Fire Truck
1 MIN READ

Police Car and Fire Truck Crash on E4 Injures Officers

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After
2 MIN READ

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After Arrest in Turkey

Europol Looks to Sweden for
2 MIN READ

Europol Looks to Sweden for Tackling Digital Gang Crime

Woman Dies After Clothes Catch
1 MIN READ

Woman Dies After Clothes Catch Fire in Strömstad Residence

Spring Warmth to Sweep Sweden
1 MIN READ

Spring Warmth to Sweep Sweden with Temperatures Over 20 Degrees

Prehistoric Wasp Used Plant-Like Trap
3 MIN READ

Prehistoric Wasp Used Plant-Like Trap to Capture Prey, Study Reveals

Turkey Accuses Swedish Journalist of
3 MIN READ

Turkey Accuses Swedish Journalist of Terrorism and Anti-Turkish Reporting

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes
1 MIN READ

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes Catch Fire at Swedish Hospital

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices
4 MIN READ

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices Soar: 200 Kronor Gift Cards Run Out

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance
3 MIN READ

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance Powers on Minors in Sweden

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at
1 MIN READ

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at Rare Solar Eclipse with Welding Masks

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected to Be Released Soon in Turkey

Police Struggle to Keep Up
3 MIN READ

Police Struggle to Keep Up as Online Radicalization Surges

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse
3 MIN READ

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse on March 29: How to Safely Watch

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment
1 MIN READ

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment Fire; Police Investigate

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested in Turkey Without Charge Details

Teen Convicted in Skärholmen Tunnel
1 MIN READ

Teen Convicted in Skärholmen Tunnel Murder Appeals 14-Year Sentence

Key Figures Depart Following Millennium
1 MIN READ

Key Figures Depart Following Millennium System Halt in Västra Götaland

Teen Arrested After Man Shot
1 MIN READ

Teen Arrested After Man Shot in Gothenburg Residential Area

Two Arrested After Gunfire Hits
1 MIN READ

Two Arrested After Gunfire Hits Apartments in Arlöv Near Malmö

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Five Hospitalized Following Serious Car Crash Near Surahammar

Sweden Sets Clocks Forward for
1 MIN READ

Sweden Sets Clocks Forward for Summertime Transition

Man in His 70s Dies
1 MIN READ

Man in His 70s Dies in Drowning Accident in Jämtland

Facebook Revives Friend Feed to
1 MIN READ

Facebook Revives Friend Feed to Reconnect Users

Sweden Redirects 158 Million Kronor
1 MIN READ

Sweden Redirects 158 Million Kronor Aid to Myanmar Earthquake Relief

Fegen Residents Advised to Boil
1 MIN READ

Fegen Residents Advised to Boil Water Due to Waterworks Issue

Swedish Journalist's Arrest in Turkey
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist's Arrest in Turkey Sparks Global Outcry

EU License Changes May Impact
4 MIN READ

EU License Changes May Impact Swedish A-Tractor Rules for Teens

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Detained
3 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Detained in Turkey

Sixth Suspect Linked to December
1 MIN READ

Sixth Suspect Linked to December Murder in Växjö

Swedish Foreign Minister Deeply Moved
1 MIN READ

Swedish Foreign Minister Deeply Moved by Southeast Asia Earthquake

Man in Custody After Shooting
1 MIN READ

Man in Custody After Shooting at Police in Karlshamn

Swedish IS Terrorist Osama Krayem
1 MIN READ

Swedish IS Terrorist Osama Krayem Detained for Serious War Crimes

25 Charged in Sweden for
2 MIN READ

25 Charged in Sweden for Defrauding Elderly of Millions

Swedish Court to Decide on
2 MIN READ

Swedish Court to Decide on Alleged Birth Intervention Without Consent

18-Year-Old Faces Charges for Nine
1 MIN READ

18-Year-Old Faces Charges for Nine Attempted Murders in Malmö

Person Dies After Falling from
1 MIN READ

Person Dies After Falling from Ship Near Göteborg

Kristersson Faces New Inquiry Over
1 MIN READ

Kristersson Faces New Inquiry Over Alleged Political Bias in Government

Students Call for Better Sex
1 MIN READ

Students Call for Better Sex and Consent Education in Swedish Schools