Sweden: The man accused of murdering Sweden's Foreign Minister, Ms Anna Lindh, is to undergo a psychiatric assessment before a verdict is given in his case.
Mr Mijailo Mijailovic (25) admits stabbing Ms Lindh several times in the NK Department Store in Stockholm on September 10th last year, but claims he didn't intend to kill her.
If his psychiatric assessment finds him insane, he will most likely be put into psychiatric care indefinitely. If not, he will be convicted of either murder or manslaughter. If convicted of murder, he faces a life sentence, which in Sweden is usually around 15 years.
There is a slim possibility that he could walk free if it is deemed that his mental state was so poor at the time of the killing that he didn't know what he was doing but that it has subsequently improved to a state where he no longer needs psychiatric care. Legal experts in Sweden believe this to be highly unlikely.
Mr Mijailovic's trial concluded yesterday with prosecuting lawyers arguing that he be convicted for murder. The state prosecutor, Ms Agnetha Blidberg, told the court: "He has intentionally taken Anna Lindh's life. We are seeking a murder conviction."
Ms Blidberg noted that the accused had spent 15 minutes in the NK department store on September 10th without any money and without any intention to purchase. She argued that he could easily have been watching Ms Lindh's movements and the purposeful manner in which he went to attack indicates that.
Ms Blidberg also noted that the aggressive nature of the attack was an indication that he intended to kill Ms Lindh. "The extent of the injuries show how violent, powerful and aggressive the attack was," she said.
Mr Mijailovic's lawyer, Mr Peter Althin, argued in court yesterday that a series of prescriptions from different doctors damaged his client's well-being. Mr Althin argued that the combination of tablets and pills led him to a state of psychosis. Mr Mijailovic has a history of mental illness. His psychiatric assessment is expected to take about four weeks.