Woman acquitted of arson in Kista – lit photographs on fire on balcony
A middle-aged woman caused an extensive fire in a multi-family house in Kista after burning photographs on the balcony. Solna District Court acquits her of serious arson.
Burned photographs on balcony – acquitted of serious arson in Kista
One morning in February, the fire service was called out to a multi-family house in Kista in north-western Stockholm after reports of heavy smoke development. Four people inhaled smoke and a nursery school in the building was evacuated, reports Dagens Nyheter.
At the scene, police arrested a middle-aged woman. She explained that she had gone out onto the balcony to burn photographs of her husband – the couple had had recurring conflicts, among other things about recycling. After a while, furniture on the balcony caught fire.
The woman tried to extinguish the fire with a glass of water. When that did not help, she went into the flat to fetch a bucket, but found none. The fire spread to the loft spaces and the damage to the building became very extensive.
"I did not set it intentionally. It just happened. I tried to extinguish it. I wanted to fetch a bucket," the woman said in questioning, describing the incident as an accident. To police, she stated that she had regretted it every day since.
She had also posted material from the incident on Instagram.
Prosecutor: danger to multiple people
In May, charges were brought for serious arson. The prosecutor argued that the fire had been set in a densely built area where it could easily spread and had posed a danger to several persons.
District Court: no intent proven
Solna District Court now acquits the woman. The court establishes that intent is a necessary element of the crime of arson, and that it is not sufficient that the woman should have realised the risk of fire. No such intent has been proven.
The District Court also notes that a medical certificate shows that the woman committed the act whilst under the influence of a serious mental disorder.
Source: Dagens Nyheter