It was on March 10, 2024, that passersby found a large sports bag in a wooded area on Värmdö, west of Stockholm. In the bag, wrapped in plastic bags, lay a dead 37-year-old man. He is believed to have been murdered three days earlier.
At the time of his death, he was at home with a woman with whom he had started a relationship in the fall of 2023, says chief prosecutor David Säfwe at a press conference in Nacka District Court.
The woman's husband – who had found out about her relationship with the man – and her brother-in-law were also in the apartment.
The investigation shows that the man was murdered in the apartment, through a deep cut in the throat. Afterwards, his body was placed in plastic bags and put in the bag, which was later dumped outdoors.
Cleaned up
The apartment was cleaned up and there are no traces in the apartment.
The prosecution's evidence in the case has been based on what happened before and to some extent after the murder, says Säfwe.
As for the woman, it has only been proven that she was involved in planning to commit a serious crime against the man. It cannot be established that she had intent to murder.
Among other things, she had persuaded the victim to come to the address on the day in question.
Regarding the other person accused of murder, the 20-year-old brother-in-law, the prosecutor has not proven that he was involved and he is therefore fully acquitted of the events in the apartment. However, it is proven that the two of them, after the murder, placed the man in the bag and they are therefore convicted of gross violation of the peace of the dead.
The husband on the run
The district court has not taken a stance on what is proven about the woman's husband, who is on the run and internationally wanted for involvement in the murder.
His potential guilt is something that will be tried when and if he is caught, says David Säfwe.
According to the prosecution, the murder was honor-related. However, the court does not believe this is proven.
A third person, the woman's 26-year-old brother, is also convicted. He is convicted of gross protection of a criminal, since he drove the woman, her husband, and two children to Germany after the murder.
The woman is sentenced to prison for two years and three months. The sentence for the 20-year-old man is set to one year and eight months in prison, and the 26-year-old is sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
