Court Convictions Confirm Life Sentences in 2023 Stockholm Murders of Teenagers Layth and Mohamed

In the summer of 2023, 14-year-olds Mohamed Suleiman and Layth al-Azzawi were brutally murdered in separate wooded areas of Stockholm County, sparking a major police investigation into their deaths connected to the Foxtrot criminal network. Mohamed was stabbed multiple times, including over 28 knife wounds, while Layth was likely strangled after being subjected to torture-like violence.

Initially, three men—Robin Hedman Johansson, George Hanna, and Can Toumi—were sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the murders. Johansson was identified as a leading figure orchestrating the crimes. George Hanna was initially convicted for Mohamed’s murder but acquitted over Layth’s due to insufficient evidence.

However, following an appeal at Svea Court of Appeal, new evidence—including analyses of images taken of Layth—led to revisions in the rulings. Two additional individuals were convicted specifically for Layth’s murder, with George Hanna also receiving a life sentence for Layth’s death. Additionally, six others received prison sentences for aiding and abetting murder as well as preparations for further criminal acts related to the network. The court’s findings clarified the timeline and details surrounding Layth’s murder, previously contested in lower courts.

The investigation revealed the boys had been accused of losing firearms linked to the Foxtrot network, purportedly motivating their kidnappings, torture, and killings amid gang conflicts involving the Foxtrot and Dalennät groups.

Judge Göran Nilsson described Mohamed’s murder as monstrous, warranting the severe sentences. In total, 18 individuals faced various charges including multiple murders, kidnappings, and murder preparations, underscoring the extensive criminal activities linked to the network.