Sweden halts probe into ex-PM’s murder

Stockholm, June 10

Sweden on Wednesday dropped its investigation into the unsolved homicide of former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, who was shot lifeless 34 years in the past in downtown Stockholm.

The case’s chief prosecutor, Krister Petersson, mentioned the case was being closed as a result of the primary suspect, Stig Engstrom, had died in 2000.

Palme was gunned down on February 28, 1986, after he and his spouse Lisbet Palme left a film theatre.

Petersson mentioned Engstrom, often known as the Skandiamannen for working within the close by Skandia insurance coverage firm, had a robust dislike of Palme and his insurance policies. He was one of many first on the homicide scene and was briefly thought-about a doable suspect.

“Since he has died, I cannot indict him,” Petersson instructed a information convention.

Several different witnesses gave descriptions of the fleeing killer that matched Engstrom whereas others mentioned he wasn’t even on the scene. Engstrom himself claimed to have been current from the start, spoke to Lisbet Palme and police, and tried to resuscitate the sufferer.

Soon after the homicide, Engstrom appeared in Swedish media and developed an more and more detailed story of his involvement within the occasions and criticized the police. He claimed these witnesses who had described the killer had actually been describing him, operating to meet up with cops in pursuit of the murderer. The police then labelled Engstrom as a unreliable and inconsistent witness and categorized him as an individual of no curiosity.

Lisbet Palme was injured within the assault and later recognized the shooter as Christer Pettersson, an alcoholic and drug addict, who was convicted of Palme’s homicide. The sentence was later overturned after police failed to provide any technical proof towards him, leaving the homicide an unsolved thriller. — AP