Brothers acquitted of hanging murder

Teenagers, four brothers among them, are acquitted by the Svea Court of Appeal for the murder of a 26-year-old man who was found hanged outside Enköping last year. According to the court, it is not possible to determine how he died or who is responsible. "I understand that it's frustrating and disturbing," says the judge.

» Updated: October 07 2024

» Published: June 04 2024

Brothers acquitted of hanging murder
Photo: Polisen/TT

Four teenagers, including four brothers, have been acquitted by the Svea Court of Appeal for the murder of a 26-year-old man who was found hanged outside Enköping last year.

According to the court, it is not possible to determine how he died or who is responsible.

"I understand that it's frustrating and disturbing," says the judge.

In the district court, all were convicted of involvement, with three convicted of murder. Two others were convicted of aiding and abetting. Now, three brothers are convicted of murder, robbery, gross desecration of the dead, and gross protection of a criminal. A fourth brother and his girlfriend are convicted of murder and robbery.

The 26-year-old man was found hanged in a tree in the Hjälstaviken nature reserve in April last year. He had gone missing a week earlier. His taxi was found abandoned 500 meters away with the taximeter still on.

The motive for what prosecutors said was a murder was reportedly revenge for a supposed rape that the victim allegedly committed against the woman.

In the district court, all denied involvement in his death, but before the appeal hearing, the murder-convicted brothers provided new information.

They said they were at the scene but only thought they would confront and rob him – that he died was an accident, said all three. According to them, he was then lifted up into the tree to make it look like a suicide.

However, the statements were not consistent. One said he died when one of the brothers pulled a rope around his neck, while the other two said he died from a grip around the neck. Furthermore, the brother who said he accidentally killed the man can protect someone else, according to the court.

Overall, it is considered that it is not possible to know who or who caused his death. It is also not possible to determine how he died, as the forensic medical investigation does not provide clear answers.

High Court Judge Kerstin Elserth says in a comment that she understands that it is disturbing for the relatives that the court cannot provide an answer to who killed the man:

"But even in these situations when it is clear that the responsibility for what happened is with a small group of people, the high court must be convinced of who or who is responsible for the man's death and we have not been able to establish that."

Prosecutor Moa Blomqvist notes that the court makes a completely different assessment than the prosecutors who wanted all five to be convicted of jointly killing the man.

The man who was 18 at the time of the incident is sentenced to seven years in prison. The other four receive closed youth care.

Since no one is convicted of causing the man's death, the family will not receive compensation.

Tags

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

More news

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise
1 MIN READ

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise Deaths, No Crime Suspected

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade
1 MIN READ

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade Attack on Malmö Restaurant

Simona Mohamsson Named New Party
2 MIN READ

Simona Mohamsson Named New Party Secretary for The Liberals

Record Number of Swedes Register
1 MIN READ

Record Number of Swedes Register for University Entrance Exam

Shots Fired at House in
1 MIN READ

Shots Fired at House in Hudiksvall, Police Investigate Attempted Murder

Teen Girl Stabbed on Bus
1 MIN READ

Teen Girl Stabbed on Bus in Eslöv; Four Teens Detained

Demirok Steps Down as Center
1 MIN READ

Demirok Steps Down as Center Party Leader Citing Internal Leaks

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for Defrauding Elderly of Millions

Ancient Greek Harbor Unveiled Beneath
3 MIN READ

Ancient Greek Harbor Unveiled Beneath Waters in Asine Discovery

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One
1 MIN READ

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One Person Detained

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus
1 MIN READ

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus in Eslöv; Four Teens Arrested

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces
1 MIN READ

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces Charges in Pension Fund Bribery Case

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower
2 MIN READ

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults

Critics Challenge Proposal to End
3 MIN READ

Critics Challenge Proposal to End Summer Grazing for Swedish Dairy Cows

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery
1 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery Purchases Supporting Parties

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång Fire Investigated as Suspected Murder

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids
1 MIN READ

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids and Hazardous Substances

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact
2 MIN READ

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact from US Tariffs, Government Warns

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges for House Fire in Norway

Man Charged in Fatal Lund
1 MIN READ

Man Charged in Fatal Lund Knife Attack Linked to Drug Deal

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by
1 MIN READ

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by 30 Percent in 2024, Young Riders Most Affected

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for
1 MIN READ

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for Embezzling Millions from Municipalities

Teen Faces Court in Sweden
2 MIN READ

Teen Faces Court in Sweden for Alleged Sect-Linked Knife Attack

Elderly Man Critically Injured in
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man Critically Injured in Kävlinge Villa Fire

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief
1 MIN READ

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief Anna Saleem Högberg

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at
2 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at Migration Detention Centers

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to
1 MIN READ

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to Close Following Riksdag Decision

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Parents in Sweden Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Parents in Sweden Jailed for Locking Children in Basement

75-Year-Old Woman Cleared of Murder
1 MIN READ

75-Year-Old Woman Cleared of Murder Charges in Ale

Bribery Convictions in Sweden See
1 MIN READ

Bribery Convictions in Sweden See Rise in Gross Offenses

Suspect Detained in Norrköping Murder
1 MIN READ

Suspect Detained in Norrköping Murder Investigation

Sabotage Cuts Power to 500
1 MIN READ

Sabotage Cuts Power to 500 Homes in Småland, Police Investigate

Twelve Indicted in Major Scania
1 MIN READ

Twelve Indicted in Major Scania Drug Network Bust

Sun-Seeking App Trend Raises Skin
2 MIN READ

Sun-Seeking App Trend Raises Skin Cancer Concerns in Sweden

Sweden Braces for Year's Warmest
1 MIN READ

Sweden Braces for Year's Warmest Day Before Cold Snap Hits

Online Sect's Influence on Teen
4 MIN READ

Online Sect's Influence on Teen Knife Attacks Faces Court Scrutiny

Swedish Man Sentenced to 10
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Long-Term Abuse of Relative

Man Critically Injured in Sollefteå
1 MIN READ

Man Critically Injured in Sollefteå Workplace Accident