Senior Prosecutor Challenges Identification of 'Skandiamannen' in Palme Murder Case

Overåklagare Lennart Guné has publicly criticized the identification of Stig Engström, known as 'Skandiamannen', as the perpetrator in the 1986 murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. Guné's review of the evidence found that existing information was insufficient to conclusively accuse Engström. This comes after chief prosecutor Krister Petersson officially closed the investigation on June 10, 2020, citing Engström's death as a main reason for not proceeding further.

Guné stated that both evidence supporting and contradicting Engström's involvement were carefully examined, but ultimately, the case lacked a solid foundation to label him as the murderer. Despite previous claims by Petersson that evidence was sufficient to arrest Engström if he were alive, Guné's later assessment argues otherwise.

Requests to reopen the investigation using new DNA technology to analyze evidence from Palme's coat were considered but ultimately denied due to the absence of new, compelling evidence. Guné emphasized that there are currently no known circumstances that would justify reopening the case, and that it will remain closed.

This statement shifts the narrative, updating the reasoning behind the investigation’s closure to reflect that the evidence does not conclusively identify any suspect. It underlines the enduring challenges in solving the case even decades after Palme's assassination. Guné's remarks also highlight the importance of careful scrutiny before naming suspects in high-profile cases, particularly when the accused is deceased and unable to defend themselves.

As of now, the Palme murder investigation stands closed with no active leads, while public and legal discourse continues regarding the appropriateness of naming Engström as the prime suspect without conclusive proof.