Today Christer Pettersson, who remains the only person to be considered guilty (though later freed due to lack of evidence) of the murder of the
Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986, died today at the age of 57.
The failure to find the actual perpetrator has caused a number of conspiracy theories involving right-wing Swedish police officers as well as Kurdish
militants. The reason for the suspicions of a conspiracy is not completely unfounded. During his period, the Swedish Prime Minister managed to make
lots of friends as well as enemies due to what many viewed as controversial views on world politics at the time. He was a loud opposer of the war in
Vietnam, the nuclear arms race and apartheid. He also loudly voiced his support for PLO and Nelson Mandela.
The Associated Press
Pettersson had been in a coma at the Karolinska Hospital since Sept. 16. He died from brain hemorrhaging and organ failure, hospital spokeswoman Inger
Rosell said.
Pettersson was unconscious when he was admitted to the hospital with severe head injuries, Rosell said. It was unclear what caused the injuries. He
underwent surgery but never regained consciousness, Rosell said.
"It's a tragic life that has now come to its end," Prime Minister Goeran Persson told Swedish news agency TT.
A convicted criminal with a history of substance abuse, Pettersson was the only person tried for Palme's murder after being identified by Palme's
widow, Lisbet, as the killer.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
The murder of Olof Palme shocked the Swedish people and is considered the one incident to cause Sweden to loose its virginity once and for all. The
case is still unsolved.
In a related event; about one year ago, Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, died from the stabbing wounds after being attacked at a department store
in the capitol of Sweden.
Related News Links:
news.bbc.co.uk
news.bbc.co.uk
[edit on 29-9-2004 by Durden]
[edit on 29-9-2004 by John bull 1]
. 
