The Norwegian, who is in his 50s, was re-arrested on Friday. He has previously been suspected of murdering a woman in Trollhättan. During Friday, it was announced that he is also suspected of three cases of incitement to suicide, reports TTELA.
– This is information that has come to light in connection with the death investigation. It is not he himself who has told us about it, we have received the information in another way, says prosecutor Carina Gustafsson to the newspaper.
The man denies any crime, according to his lawyer.
Has advocated euthanasia
According to TTELA’s review, the Norwegian has been an active advocate of euthanasia in his social media.
He was arrested at the end of November, just over two months after a middle-aged woman was found dead in her home in Trollhättan. The police initially thought it was a suicide, but after new circumstances during the investigation, the Norwegian was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Now he is also suspected of probable cause for three counts of inciting suicide. These should have taken place in Stockholm, Västerås and Norrköping in September.
Prosecutor Carina Gustafsson tells the newspaper that the investigation against the man is ongoing but that charges may be delayed. Among other things, his mobile phone and computer are analysed.
Sentenced in Norway
In July 2024, the man was sentenced by the Söndre Östfold district court in Norway to eight years in prison, of which five are suspended, for aiding and abetting suicide. This after a Norwegian woman in her 70s was found dead in a hotel in Strömstad in 2023.
The court judged that the man had a great influence on the woman’s decision, and was present at the incident. Among other things, the man is said to have suggested that he would suffocate or drown her. He also allegedly wrote that he had helped six people die before her and that he had no plans to stop.
The man appealed the sentence and was released pending the appeal court proceedings.
The prosecutor: “Recidivism”
In 1986, the Norwegian, who was then 15 years old, was convicted of the murder of a seven-year-old girl. He was then assessed to have a mild intellectual disability. At the sentencing in July 2024, however, he was deemed not to have a disability. According to Gustafsson, there are currently no plans to conduct a forensic psychiatric investigation in Sweden.
However, it can be taken into account that he was previously convicted in Norway, if there is a Swedish prosecution.
– Yes, it is recidivism. We always look at foreign judgments as well. It is something that we highlight as a risk of recidivism and committing new crimes, which we believe he has done, says Gustafsson to the newspaper.
The criminal classification of incitement to suicide was introduced in 2021, and can lead to two years in prison.