'Serial murderer' gets life for gay killing

A 35-year-old man was convicted on Tuesday of murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery and theft. He was given a life sentence.

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All of the man’s victims were gay men.

“All the victims were, or are, homosexual. He has taken advantage of their sexual preferences and violated them,” said public prosecutor Fredrik Ingblad at the man's indictment hearing.

The man was convicted of killing a 43-year-old man in the victim’s apartment in the Stockholm suburb of Solna on December 28th of last year, and on the previous day of having robbed and attempted to kill a 44-year-old man on Södermalm in Stockholm.

In addition, the 35-year-old was convicted of having robbed a man in an apartment on Södermalm on December 9th and for having robbed yet another man on December 15th in Midsommarkransen south of Stockholm.

The 35-year-old made contact with the men through different internet chat sites. He gave the impression of wanting to have sex with them, whereupon it was decided he should meet the victims in their apartments.

When the men finally met, the appointments quickly descended into brutal violence.

The December 28th Solna rendezvous ended with the apartment owner dead from knife wounds.

During the attempted murder on Södermalm the day before, the victim received a number of threats and stab wounds, including one on the sole of his foot as he lay naked in bed with his hand tied behind his back.

Before the 35-year-old left the apartment he stole the victim’s wallet, which held 900 kronor ($150).

Nearly the same scene played out during the robbery of another man on Södermalm on December 9th. That time, the 35-year-old took the victim’s computer, several bottles of alcohol, and some jewellery.

The prosecutor has previously confirmed that the 35-year-old had earlier been sentenced for similar crimes and was serving his sentence until January 2007.

He has also been informed that he is suspected of the murder of a woman in Eslöv in southern Sweden in 2000 and may soon be indicted in that case as well.