Appeals Court Alters Sentences in Rapper C. Gambino Murder Case Amid New Confession Theory
The Court of Appeal modifies convictions in the murder of rapper C. Gambino, acquitting one man amid new claims of a TikTok confession from an alternative suspect.
- • Rapper C. Gambino was killed in June 2024 in Göteborg; the murder linked to gang conflicts but with no clear motive.
- • Hassan Rabeie received a life sentence confirmed by the appellate court as the primary planner.
- • Fatjam Vardari was acquitted by the Court of Appeal due to uncertain evidence of his presence at the crime scene.
- • Vide Atterstam's sentence was increased to 16 years for aiding the murder and related charges.
- • A new defense theory presents a teenager who confessed on TikTok, bringing an alternative suspect into the case.
- • No one has yet been convicted of the actual murder, only aiding crimes.
Key details
The Court of Appeal for Western Sweden recently delivered significant rulings in the high-profile murder case of rapper Karar Ramadan, known as C. Gambino, who was shot dead on June 4, 2024, in a parking garage in Hisingen, Göteborg. The appellate court upheld the life sentence for 22-year-old Hassan Rabeie, identified as the key planner and present during the shooting. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old accomplice's sentence was increased to 16 years for procuring the vehicle used in the attack. However, in a notable development, 21-year-old Fatjam Vardari, previously sentenced to 12.5 years for being in the crime vehicle, was acquitted due to doubts about his presence at the scene, as his mobile phone was off during the incident.
The murder, believed to be connected to gang conflicts in Göteborg, has seen no clear motive officially established, nor a direct link between Gambino and gang activities. A startling new defense theory emerged during the appellate hearings, implicating an alternative suspect—a teenager who allegedly confessed to the crime on TikTok, sharing details only the perpetrator would know. This revelation has introduced uncertainty into the case, challenging the prior convictions.
Convicted alongside Rabeie and Vardari was 20-year-old Vide Atterstam, whose sentence was increased from 15 years and six months to 16 years, involving charges including aiding the murder and gross protection of a criminal. The differing appellate outcomes highlight the complexities and ongoing controversies surrounding the case.
According to Expressen, the court's verdicts reflect the evolving nature of the investigation and judicial process. The acquittal of Vardari suggests that evidence regarding his involvement was not definitive. Meanwhile, reports from SVT Nyheter emphasize the potential impact of the TikTok confession theory in shaping new defense arguments.
At this stage, the case remains unresolved in terms of pinpointing the actual murderer, with three men convicted for aiding the crime but no one yet convicted of the murder itself. The latest appellate court decisions mark a crucial moment in a case deeply intertwined with Göteborg’s ongoing gang violence issues but shrouded in unanswered questions and new leads.