The sentence that the 17-year-old is now receiving, for murder and aggravated grave desecration, is the same as the district court previously imposed. However, unlike the district court, the court of appeal believes that the prosecutor has been able to show that the act was premeditated.
"It's about a planned act that has involved extensive and brutal knife violence," says court of appeal judge Mia Schenck Blomqvist, according to a press release from the court of appeal for western Sweden.
Extensive injuries
The 15-year-old boy left his home in Alingsås and disappeared one day in October last year.
A few days later, the then 16-year-old boy, who knew the 15-year-old, was arrested, suspected of kidnapping. At the same time, a large search effort was underway, involving, among other things, dog patrols, divers, and a helicopter.
Six days after the disappearance, the 15-year-old's body was found in the Säve River, with injuries from over 100 knife wounds.
On the same day, the 17-year-old was arrested. It later became clear that he had dragged the 15-year-old's dead body into the river.
The boys had agreed to meet at the location where the 15-year-old was found. The 17-year-old admits that they met there. However, he denies the murder and claims self-defense.
Searched online
The court of appeal points out, however, that the 17-year-old had a knife with him, and that he had made several compromising searches online – including "how many years do you get for murder if you're under 18".
A forensic psychiatric examination has shown that the 17-year-old does not suffer from any serious mental disorder.
The convicted person is to pay 110,000 kronor in damages to the 15-year-old's father.
