Court Acquits Man Previously Convicted in C Gambino Murder Case

A Swedish appellate court has overturned the conviction of a 21-year-old man previously found guilty of involvement in the murder of artist Karar Ramadan, professionally known as C Gambino. The artist was fatally shot in a parking garage in June last year, a crime that sent shockwaves through the Swedish music industry and wider public.

Initial investigations revealed that C Gambino was attacked by gunfire from a passing vehicle. While no individual was found directly responsible for the murder at the district court level, three young men were convicted for their roles in aiding the crime. Among them, the 21-year-old from Halland was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison, having been alleged to have been present in the getaway vehicle during the shooting.

Upon review, the Court of Appeal for Western Sweden reassessed the evidence related to the 21-year-old's involvement. The court acknowledged that while he had contact with others implicated in the case and there were indications he might have been present at the crime scene, it could not be definitively proven that he was there at the time of the incident. Notably, his mobile phone was switched off during the period in question, and it remained possible he was elsewhere in Gothenburg during the shooting. As a result, the charges against him were dismissed.

The legal proceedings also addressed the roles of the other two accused. A 22-year-old, previously found to have planned the attack and participated in the shooting from within the vehicle, had his life sentence upheld by the appellate court. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old, who was deemed to have procured the getaway vehicle, saw his sentence increased from 15 years and six months to 16 years in prison following the appeal.

Authorities have indicated that the murder is suspected to be connected to ongoing gang conflicts in the Biskopsgården area. However, the investigation has not established a clear motive for the attack. Prosecutors have also stated that there is no evidence suggesting that C Gambino himself was involved in any criminal activity. Reports suggest that the artist was unaware of any threats against him prior to the fatal incident.

The ruling brings renewed attention to the challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing organized crime and gang-related violence in Sweden, as well as the complexities involved in prosecuting such cases when evidence remains circumstantial or unclear.