Closing Arguments in Swedish Foreign Minister Murder Case

January 19, 2004

After two and a half days of testimony and arguments from both sides, five days after the trial began, closing arguments were given this morning in the case against Mijailo Mijailovic, the man being tried for the murder of Swedish foreign minister Anna Lindh.

The court announced its decision, made last Friday, that Mijailovic will undergo psychiatric evaluation. Deliberations have been suspended pending completion of the evaluation, which is estimated to take four to five weeks. After release of results, it is possible for the trial to continue with related evidence and arguments, which could for example focus on the probable effects of the combination of medication Mijailovic was taking.

That Mijailo Mijailovic attacked Anna Lindh with a knife in Stockholm department store NK on September 10, 2003, and that Anna Lindh died the next morning from the multiple stab wounds he inflicted is not in doubt. Strong physical evidence, eye witness accounts, and an eventual confession left a focus on Mijailovic's psychiatric condition; whether he was in effect responsible for his own actions and whether he intended to kill Anna Lindh.

The evidence showed that Mijailovic has suffered psychiatric problems for several years. He was regularly heavily medicated with prescription drugs that had not been sufficiently monitored. Mijailovic had scheduled an appointment with his doctor the day before the crime but the doctor was unavailable. He sought additional treatment and complained of hearing voices in his head and morbid thoughts related to well known political figures, but was not admitted for additional treatment. Instead, he was given additional medication that may have contributed to his aggressive behavior.

Prosecutors contend that circumstances did not warrant a reduced charge or sentence. He brought a knife with him from home when he came to Stockholm that day and was prepared to use it. His attack was designed so that the victim had virtually no opportunity to defend herself. After the attack, he took rational steps designed to hide his guilt; disposing of clothing, trying to get a hair cut immediately in order to change his appearance. They speculate that Anna Lindh was a symbol for a society that Mijailovic was dissatisfied with.

In defense, Peter Althin said that Anna Lindh was the victim of the state of society, in which increased violence was related to lack of treatment for people suffering from serious psychiatric problems. He cited two other well-known cases in which lack of treatment was related to violence and death, including a case in which a mentally ill man drove wildly through Stockholm's Old Town mowing down pedestrians. He also pointed out that there is no way that any outsider could have predicted that Anna Lindh would go to NK that day. The circumstances surrounding the crime were entirely coincidental.

A motion by defense attorney Peter Althin to release his client was denied. There is convincing evidence that Mijailovic committed the crime and the minimum penalty, for assault, is two years in prison. Those facts sufficiently support holding him. Chief jurist Göran Nilsson stated that if he was released there would be a high risk that he would flee or continue his criminal activities.

Prosecutors did not contest the psychiatric evaluation, admitting that it could help clarify Mijailovic's condition. Pending results that indicate otherwise however, they are asking for conviction on the murder charge which carries a  penalty of ten years to life in prison. Defense attorney Peter Althin said that the crime lacked a motive and that the prosecution had not proven intent. The prosecution contends that there is no legal requirement to prove that the attack was pre-planned for it to be classed as murder.

Related Article (January 14, 2004): Trial for Murder of Swedish Foreign Minister Under Way