Defence counsel demands hearing over continued detention in Brattås murder case
Man aged 45, suspected of the double murder in Brattås in 2005, is sought re-detained for the second time. The defence opposes this and demands a hearing in court.
Defence opposes re-detention of Brattås man – appeal announced
The 45-year-old man who has been detained on suspicion of the double murder in Brattås in Härnösand since 10 April is now sought to be re-detained for the second time, reports SVT Nyheter.
Senior prosecutor Hanna Flordal seeks to have the man held in detention for a further four weeks, on the grounds that the investigation has not yet been concluded.
This time, however, the defence chooses not to accept the request without objection.
"I will dispute continued detention for my client and demand a re-detention hearing. My client denies the offences and has now been detained for two months," defence counsel Johan Lavås tells SVT.
At the previous extension, on 7 May, the defence had no objections and the court decided on a further four weeks without a hearing. That period has now expired.
Lavås describes the evidence as weak.
"As a defence counsel, I perceive the evidence as very weak. From a defence perspective, nothing has happened during these two months that my client has been detained," he says.
The man is suspected on probable grounds of both murders committed in Brattås in 2005 and he is linked to one of the murder victims through DNA. He has nevertheless consistently denied the offences and given the same account of events in all interviews.
Lavås has previously told SVT that his client has an explanation for why his DNA was found at the crime scene – an explanation that the defence has so far chosen not to elaborate on publicly, citing the secrecy of the preliminary investigation.
Should Ångermanland District Court decide to extend the detention, the defence intends to proceed further.
"We will likely appeal the re-detention," Lavås says.
A possible appeal would then be reviewed by the Court of Appeal for Lower Norrland.
The article will be updated during the day.
Source: SVT Nyheter