A 50-year-old man, arrested by police on February 21, was remanded in custody by the Skellefteå District Court two days later. After nearly three months in detention, prosecutors have now indicted him for his mother's death. The charges include murder, with aggravated assault resulting in death as an alternative.
The suspect was already in police custody at Skellefteå Hospital on the morning of February 21 when he was formally charged.
He had been arrested two days earlier following a reported traffic accident. A detention hearing at the Skellefteå District Court on February 23 resulted in the suspect being remanded in custody. The upcoming trial is scheduled for May in Skelleftehamn.
While the suspect has admitted involvement in his mother's death, details provided to investigators have been inconsistent. However, he has described a method to police and prison staff that aligns with the evidence collected. A preliminary psychiatric evaluation (paragraph 7 examination) suggests the possibility of a serious mental disorder.
According to the investigation, witnesses observed unusual behavior from the suspect shortly before the incident. The prosecutor's report also details prior conflicts between the man and his mother, which involved social services.
Physical evidence appears to corroborate the prosecutor's case. Blood and DNA traces belonging to both the suspect and the victim were found on a flashlight, consistent with the suspect's statements.
The son's DNA was also recovered from the mother's neck. Additionally, the suspect reportedly described strangling his mother while being driven to the police station, prior to being informed of how we thought the victim was killed.
The investigation has not revealed any evidence suggesting the involvement of anyone else in the murder. No unknown DNA traces were found, nor were there any signs of valuables missing from the residence, which could indicate a robbery motive.
If the Skellefteå District Court finds "compelling evidence" against the 50-year-old defendant during the trial, a forensic psychiatric evaluation may be necessary. This is due to preliminary medical concerns suggesting he might have a serious mental illness.
The defendant's lawyer, Urban Rönnblom, said:
– Based on the investigation's findings, the prosecutor's inclusion of a lesser alternative charge seems reasonable. My client has struggled to explain the events of that day, but the investigation suggests he lacked any motive or intent to harm his mother.
A close relative found the deceased woman after receiving information about the suspect's car accident on the morning of February 21.
Concerned about the man's behavior, the relative went to the residence and discovered the victim with facial and throat injuries. The forensic medical report suggests the woman was likely killed the night before, as she was not dressed for bed.
While the primary charge is murder, prosecutor Hedberg has also presented an alternative plea of aggravated assault resulting in death.
This alternative plea is reportedly linked to a forthcoming assessment of the suspect's mental state at the time of the offense and whether it may have limited his understanding of the consequences of his actions.
On Friday, prosecutor Petra Hedberg filed charges against the 50-year-old man suspected of murdering his mother in Skelleftehamn. The formal arrest occurred on the morning of February 21 while the man was already in police custody at Skellefteå hospital.