Two murders in 1989
Ten-year-old Helén Nilsson disappeared from Hörby on March 20, 1989. She was found dead six days later outside Tollarp. The investigation became one of Sweden's most closely followed cold cases.
Later that year, on August 4, 26-year-old Jannica Ekblad was found murdered near a rest area outside Hässleholm. Investigators noted similarities between the cases, but neither killing was solved at the time.
The DNA breakthrough
Years later, investigators were able to develop a usable DNA profile from evidence in Helén's case. During a renewed inquiry in 2004, police requested voluntary samples from a group of men. Ulf Olsson's DNA matched the profile, and he was arrested in June 2004.
The investigation also connected him to Jannica's murder. Reporting from the proceedings documented blood from Jannica at a property previously associated with Olsson, along with other evidence examined by the courts.
Trial and convictions
Lund District Court found Olsson guilty of the crimes against Helén and of Jannica's murder. In April 2005, the district court imposed life imprisonment.
The case then went to the Court of Appeal for Skåne and Blekinge. On July 5, 2005, the appellate court maintained the findings of guilt but changed the sanction to secure forensic psychiatric care with special discharge review, based on psychiatric evidence about Olsson's condition.
Final appellate status
The prosecutor general did not pursue a further appeal seeking imprisonment. Olsson sought review in the Supreme Court, but on October 11, 2005, Sweden's Supreme Court declined to reopen the case. The Court of Appeal judgment therefore stood.
Olsson continued to deny guilt. His denial is part of the record, but it does not change the final legal outcome: Swedish courts convicted him of both murders.
Timeline
March 20, 1989: Helén Nilsson disappears from Hörby.
March 26, 1989: Helén is found dead outside Tollarp.
August 4, 1989: Jannica Ekblad is found murdered near Hässleholm.
June 2004: a renewed DNA inquiry leads police to arrest Ulf Olsson.
April 6, 2005: Lund District Court sentences Olsson to life imprisonment after convictions in both cases.
July 5, 2005: the Court of Appeal preserves the convictions but orders secure forensic psychiatric care.
October 11, 2005: the Supreme Court declines further review, leaving the appellate judgment in force.
Current status
Both murders are solved / adjudicated. Ulf Olsson was convicted of killing Helén Nilsson and Jannica Ekblad, and the final sanction was secure forensic psychiatric care with special discharge review. He died in custody in 2010.
Sources
- Sveriges Radio — Court of Appeal orders forensic psychiatric care, July 5, 2005
- Sveriges Radio — Supreme Court declines further review, October 11, 2005
- Sveriges Radio — district court finding in Helén Nilsson case, December 20, 2004
- Svenska Dagbladet — excerpts from the district court judgment, April 6, 2005