Prosecutors and police officers had to jostle with lawyers, journalists, and relatives outside courtroom 1 in the security hall in Stockholm before the doors opened on Tuesday, over half an hour after the scheduled time.
The courtroom quickly became full when the defendants and lawyers had to share the space with correctional officers, prosecutors, and police officers. A total of 18 people are charged in the case, and an additional three people under the age of 15 have been charged as witnesses.
The main suspects were seated in the front row, including a 33-year-old man who is suspected of having instigated the murders and a 31-year-old who is charged with having carried them out.
We claim that NN (the 33-year-old) is the so-called main man in this. His role has involved acting remotely via chats since he was not in Sweden, says prosecutor Hanna Cardell in court.
Denies the crime
The 33-year-old, dressed in a gray sweater and with his hair in a ponytail, was arrested in absentia before he voluntarily returned from Dubai to Sweden, where he was arrested at Arlanda in February last year. Like the others, he denies the crime.
The two 14-year-olds were found dead in woodland areas in Nynäshamn and Upplands-Bro in July and August 2023. According to the prosecutors, Mohamed was murdered with knife violence and Layth probably with strangulation.
The investigation has shown that Mohamed was murdered around midnight on July 26, while Layth is believed to have been murdered in the evening of July 27.
Foxtrot
Both boys were held captive for several hours before they were murdered. The intention was to "interrogate" them about two pistols from Foxtrot that they were accused of having lost. They were then taken out and murdered in the woodland areas where they were found.
In addition to the murders, the indictment includes plans to murder five people connected to the rival Dalen network, in the days leading up to the two murders.
We claim that all parts are connected to the Foxtrot network and that they were committed in a gang environment. Foxtrot is controlled by this person in the picture, Rawa Majid, says Cardell and shows a picture of the wanted gang leader on the screens in the courtroom.
13 people are charged with planning to murder the individuals connected to the Dalen network. In these plans, Mohamed and Layth are also believed to have been involved before they were murdered, which is why they were in Stockholm.
18 people are charged in the case, which concerns the murders of the two 14-year-olds Mohamed and Layth, as well as plans to murder five people connected to the Dalen network.
The charges include, among other things, murder, instigation of murder, accessory to murder, kidnapping, grave robbery, preparation for murder, involvement of minors in crime, and gross unlawful threats.
Five people are charged with involvement in the murder of Mohammed, and eight for involvement in the murder of Layth.
13 people are also charged with involvement in the plans to murder the five individuals connected to the Dalen network.
In the case, charges have also been brought against three people who were not of legal age at the time of the crimes.
The evidence consists of many different parts, including a large amount of material from chats. There is also technical evidence in the form of DNA and fingerprints, as well as material from surveillance cameras.
The trial is scheduled to last for 37 court days.
