Lindh killer refuses to speak in court

THE man who killed Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh refused to answer questions during the second day of his murder trial in Stockholm.

"I am not going to answer any more questions," Mijailo Mijailovic said, and remained silent as prosecutors tried to press him on details.

The 25-year-old Swede of Serbian origin told prosecutors on Wednesday that he was acting on voices in his head when he fatally stabbed Ms Lindh, but said he didn't mean to kill her.

Ms Lindh's former press secretary yesterday told the court Mijailovic did not utter a word when he attacked the popular politician with a knife in a Stockholm department store.

Eva Franchell said she and Ms Lindh were walking in the NK store when she saw Mijailovic rush toward them.

"He ran rushed rather at high speed directly at Anna," she said. "He pressed her against the clothing rack. It almost looked perverse the way he was pushing against her."

Ms Franchell said she looked at Ms Lindh, who fell to the floor. "She told me she was stabbed and I looked down at her stomach ... blood oozing out."

Prosecutors put Ms Franchell on the stand in a bid to refute claims Mijailovic acted with intent.

The second day concluded after a private session relating to a minor psychiatric screening conducted after Mijailovic's arrest. His lawyer, Peter Althin, is expected to request a more comprehensive psychiatric examination when the trial continues on Monday.

If it is ruled he is suffering from a severe mental illness, Mijailovic would be sentenced to psychiatric care. If convicted of murder and deemed mentally competent, Mijailovic could be sentenced to life in prison.

Mr Althin blamed the attack on Sweden's psychiatric system, saying Mijailovic never got adequate help for his mental problems. Mijailovic has three previous convictions, including one for a 1996 stabbing attack on his father, who survived.