The Svea Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court's decision and sentenced 38-year-old Henrik Bergström to life imprisonment for murder and attempted murder. According to reports, Bergström stabbed his 37-year-old girlfriend to death in their shared home in Skultuna in May of the previous year, then traveled to Västerås where he attacked his ex-wife, stabbing her 35 times in front of their children. The ex-wife survived the attack.
The district court had originally sentenced Bergström to compulsory psychiatric care for murder, attempted murder, and gross violation of a child's integrity. Both sides appealed the decision, with the prosecution seeking life imprisonment and the defense wanting the psychiatric care sentence upheld.
In its ruling on Friday, the Svea Court of Appeal determined that the attack on the girlfriend was not an impulsive act and that the attempted murder of the ex-wife involved a higher degree of planning and clear intent. The court acknowledged Bergström committed the crimes under the influence of a serious mental disorder but cited the Legal Council's opinion that his psychiatric issues were not extensive enough to warrant closed psychiatric care.
In addition to the life sentence, Bergström has been ordered to pay compensation exceeding 1.5 million Swedish kronor.