The murder of Veronica Permola – investigator criticises police work
Veronica Permola was found dead in a flat in Borlänge. Despite the perpetrator having a long history of violence against women, he received only four years' imprisonment for gross culpable homicide.
The murder of Veronica Permola – investigator criticises police work
Fredrick Broberg, 55 years old and resident in Borlänge, has for decades perpetrated systematic and well-documented violence against women. His latest victim was Veronica Permola, 40, who was found lifeless on the floor of his home.
Despite Broberg's long history of intimate partner violence and the suspicious circumstances surrounding Permola's death, the investigation led only to a conviction for gross culpable homicide. The sentence was four years' imprisonment. Senior investigators specialising in intimate partner violence believe that important details were overlooked during the police investigation.
When autumn comes, Broberg will once again be a free man.
Criticism from the experienced investigators points to evidence and circumstances that could have led to a more serious charge – potentially murder – not being secured satisfactorily during the investigation. The result was therefore a lighter sentence than many within the legal system consider reasonable given the perpetrator's background and the victim's death.
The case raises questions about how Swedish police handle investigations where intimate partner violence leads to a fatal outcome, and whether there are systematic shortcomings in the work of securing evidence in such matters.
Source: Expressen
Source: Expressen