Hampus Hellekant
Hampus Hellekant | |
|---|---|
| Status | released on probation |
| Criminal charge | murder |
| Penalty | Imprisonment |
Karl Helge Hampus Hellekant, later Karl Svensson,[1] born January 30, 1976 in Danderyd, Sweden is a swedish neo-Nazi who was sentenced to 11 years of prison for the brutal, execution-like murder of syndicalist union member Björn Söderberg on October 12, 1999.[2] The murder was declared a hate crime.[3][1] During his prison term, he changed his name.[4][1]
Shortly before the murder, Hellekant and and some of his friends created "death lists" of more than 1200 Swedish politicians, journalists, communists, anarchists, homosexuals, and jews, that they wanted dead.[5][6] Hellekant and his friends were sentenced for these lists.[5]
The murder of Björn Söderberg
On September 16, 1999, the syndicalist newspaper Arbetaren revealed that Robert Vesterlund, a prominent figure in the Swedish neo-Nazi movement, held a chair in the board of the local chapter of the Swedish Commercial Employees' Union[citation needed] at Svanströms lager[citation needed] in Stockholm.[7] Arbetaren had received the information from a co-worker of Vesterlund, the syndicalist union member Björn Söderberg.[7] A week later, Vesterlund was expelled from his union, and quit his job.[7]
Because of this, Hellekant and two fellow neo-Nazis, Björn Lindberg-Hernlund and Jimmy Niklasson came to Söderberg's home in Sätra on October 12.[8] Hellekant has admitted that he, ordered by another person, called Söderberg a few hours earlier.[9] A brawl ensued, and a few minutes later, Söderberg had been shot multiple times, including in the head.[8]
After prison
In 2005, he was caught while on temporary release from the prison, suspected of assisting a fellow inmate at the Hall prison in an escape attempt.[2]
In February 2007, he was released on probation.[4] In the fall of 2007 he started medical school at the Karolinska University Hospital.[4] When his prior crimes became known to the university as well as the media in early November, a debate ensued as to whether a convicted murderer should be allowed to practice medicine.[4] While some commentators called for an expulsion from the university,[4] Karolinska decided that he would be allowed to continue studies, with head master Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson stating there was no legal way to expel him, as "no national policy covers the situation".[1] She did however state that she considers it unethical to let convicted murderers practice medicine,[4] and that it would be hard for Hellekant to get a physicians license from the National Board of health and welfare, which is required to practice.[1] It was eventually revealed that he had falsified his high school grades to get in - this led to his expulsion.[3][1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Altman, Lawrence K. (2008-01-25). "Swedes Ponder Whether Killer Can Be a Doctor". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ a b Hellberg, Magnus (2005-03-23). "Känd nazist gick rakt i polisfällan" (in Swedish). Expressen. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
- ^ a b Svantesson, Erika (2008-01-24). "Morddömd läkarstudent utkastad" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ a b c d e f Wierup, Lasse (2007-11-07). "Straffad mördare utbildas till läkare" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ a b Peruzzi, Britt (2000-07-29). "Hundratals svenskar kartlagda av nazister" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ Harne, Andreas (2002-09-17). "Morddömd nazist får gå på datakurs" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ a b c Aschberg, Richard (2000-02-11). ""Omfattande bevis mot nazisterna"" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b TT (2000-10-12). "Björn Söderberg hedrad i hela landet" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- ^ Aschberg, Richard (2000-03-01). "Han ringde offret strax före mordet" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 2008-04-06.