The were good friends. My client thinks about all those affected and is relieved that the legal process is over, says the young man's defense attorney Ebba Gerleman and adds that the 18-year-old respects the district court's assessment.
Seven youths were in the stairwell when one of them pulled out a converted starter pistol, which ended up in the 18-year-old's hands. The others have told that he was smiling.
"It was cool"
— I got happy and liked the feeling of holding a pistol. I felt cool. I thought of all you see in music videos with cars, watches, and weapons. It was cool, said the 18-year-old during the trial, as Sydsvenskan reported from.
It was also in music videos that he thought he had acquired knowledge about weapons and he believed he had secured it. But he was wrong – a shot went off and first went through a 15-year-old boy's head and then continued into a 16-year-old's head.
The 15-year-old died and the 16-year-old is still severely injured today.
This was a risk-taking "of a particularly serious nature", states Malmö district court. The court has come to the conclusion that he, for fun, but consciously, directed the pistol at the boy who died.
Tried to save a life
Afterwards, he tried to save the 15-year-old's life with first aid measures and this has taken into consideration when determining the sentence. Likewise, the court notes that he has expressed great regret and during the trial apologized to the relatives of the deceased 15-year-old and the severely injured 16-year-old.
The 18-year-old is convicted of gross manslaughter, gross bodily harm, and gross weapons offense.
I am satisfied with the outcome here, says prosecutor Caroline Carlquist, who does not believe she will appeal.
Everyone has been affected by this. What has happened is very tragic, she continues.
Elisabet Gerleman says that she and the 18-year-old have not had time to read the verdict together and therefore have not made a decision about a possible appeal. But it is leaning towards not doing so.
The weapon had been brought there by a 16-year-old, who is sentenced to closed youth care for nine months for gross weapons offense.
