19-Year-Old Man Acquitted of Murder Conspiracy - Supreme Court May Review Ruling

A 19-year-old individual was implicated in orchestrating murder contracts across various chat groups on the encrypted messaging app Signal in November of the previous year. Police investigations revealed that the accused sought individuals to carry out these acts, using phrases such as 'urgent need for hitmen' and 'looking for executioners' in several messages, as documented in the preliminary investigation.

The man was arrested in central Gothenburg on November 23, 2024, and subsequently charged on February 24 for conspiring to commit murder among other offenses. The alleged crimes were said to have occurred between November 8 and November 23 in Gothenburg and its nearby areas, as stated by prosecutor Helena Treiberg Claeson.

Authorities discovered numerous chat logs on the man's mobile device, and he admitted during interrogations to using a specific alias.

Evidence showed that the young man invited people to join a chat group to facilitate the planned murders.

However, the district court acquitted him of the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, asserting that his actions could only be interpreted as an attempt at conspiracy, which is not punishable under current laws. The appellate court upheld this verdict in early June, although two of the judges expressed differing opinions, arguing that the man's conduct constituted conspiracy to murder, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

In response, the Chief Prosecutor, Katarina Johansson Welin, has decided to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. She highlighted the growing trend of contract killings being negotiated in encrypted chats, often involving very young individuals taking on these roles. This development poses serious concerns for society, and it is crucial for law enforcement and prosecutors to intervene as early as possible.

Welin emphasized the need for clarity in the legal framework surrounding such cases, noting, 'The existing legal precedents regarding conspiracy in these contexts are outdated and limited. It is vital for guiding legal application that the Supreme Court reviews my appeal. In my view, the individual should be convicted of conspiracy to commit murder.'