Lindh's killer faked mental illness
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The man who killed the Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh in 2003 told a newspaper that he faked mental illness during his trial to try to get a lighter sentence.
Mijailo Mijailovic, 32, was quoted by Expressen as saying that his knife attack on Lindh in a Stockholm department store was motivated by a hatred of politicians. His earlier claim that voices in his head had encouraged him to stab Lindh was a ploy to receive psychiatric care instead of a prison sentence, he said.
"I was rambling to get psychiatric care. Everything was made up. I didn't hear voices," he told the daily paper. "The more you ramble, the more the doctors listen to you. But there are doctors who are difficult to fool, and there are those who are easy to fool."
Mijailovic stabbed Lindh – one of Sweden's most popular politicians at the time – inside the NK department store in September 2003. She died a day later.
An appeals court sentenced Mijailovic to psychiatric care but the Swedish Supreme Court later overturned the ruling and gave him life in prison. AP
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments