Lindh killer to be quizzed again

Prosecutors told a Stockholm court today they wanted to question confessed killer Mijailo Mijailovic again about the stabbing death of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh.

The 25-year-old was questioned yesterday and admitted to stabbing Lindh as she shopped with a friend after voices in his head told him to attack her.

Prosecutors were expected to buttress their claims that Mijailovic acted with intent when he attacked Lindh, and began questioning Eva Franchell, who was with Lindh when she was attacked.

During her testimony, Franchell said she and Lindh were walking in a Stockholm department store when she saw someone 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.”

Also expected to testify was Henrik Druid, the coroner who conducted Lindh’s autopsy.

Prosecutors decided not to call British forensic expert Paul Whitaker, who analysed the knife, who was to give evidence by telephone. No reason was given.

No other witnesses are scheduled to be called before prosecutors and defence lawyers present their closing arguments on Mijailovic’s motive in September’s attack on the 46-year-old minister that plunged the Scandinavian country into shock and mourning.

The 25-year-old Swede of Serbian origin was questioned by prosecutors when the trial opened

and said he never meant to kill Lindh, but voices in his head urged him to stab her.

“It happened so quickly. I took out the knife, then I attacked her. I don’t know how many times I stabbed,” Mijailovic said, showing scant emotion.

His lawyer, Peter Althin, called for the murder charge to be dropped in favour of manslaughter, saying Mijailovic acted on impulse.