Annika Östberg moves closer to release

So a long time in prison for killing a police officer is considered harsh in Sweden? Sometimes this country makes my mind boggle! If you read anything about the actual case she was not found guilty of "just being there". She took an active part in the murder of a California police officer. It is no wonder that police in Sweden don't get a whole lot of respect from the public when it is obvious that the government itself has very little respect for the profession.

Maybe some perspective to her life might help you rethink your views:

Annika's life story:

http://www.annikadeasy.org/who_is_annika.html

Yeah...and to think that she was flown back to Sweden on a chartered flight paid for with my tax kronors just make me puke. Its actions like this that will soon compel governments to desist allowing foreigners incacerated in their jails to be tranaferred to serve the sentence in their countries of origin. I hear there are negotiations going on with the Australian government to allow the other Swedish Socialite incacerated in Australia for similar crimes to come and serve the sentence in Sweden. Hope the Aussies are following these developments and should not be fooled to think she will come and stay in jail(if one can call them so) here. How hypocritical that the Swedish government would rather spend my tax money to negotiate the release and charter flights for convicted common law criminals than spend it on securing the release of Political prisoners like the Eritrean Swedish Journalist who has been incacerated in Eritrea since God knows when. Or could it be because the first two are natives while the latter is not?

Yes, I certainly agree thus far with the views expressed. This country indeed, makes my mid boggle! as so expressed by ameribrit. Never cease to amaze me.

To hell with your tax money Villjobba. Humanity rules! I am not sure you pay more taxes than I do in Sweden. I am disgusted when you guys becomes so cheap and cry woes about Tax money when talk about humanity and life should be more important. I prefer to look at the big picture. Perhaps, maybe when you have a sudden stroke tonite, you will first think of your tax dollars. You probably have had a structured life all your existence and life have been moderately easier for you. Just count your self lucky. Have a good day!!!

@Texrusso, I have seen the site that you linked to. I am a firm believer that you are responsible for your actions as an adult. And, as you seem to believe, your upbringing is the cause of your criminal behavior as an adult, then you are also saying that one has no choice but to act, as an adult, in the only way you can given your "programming" as a child. If this is the case then all adult offenders should be incarcerated for life because they have no choice but to continue the life style that they were programmed for. Bull!! There is just no excuse for murder. People that murder other people are just not welcome to live in civilized society.

Either way, I have to agree that there are a lot more important things in this world than spending limited funds on trying to get convicted killers out of jail.

Texrusso, if humanity rules, I would like you to explain what is humane in killing another human being. Do you see your contradiction and hypocrisy I refer to that permeates this society? What ever the history of her life, people get born into situations and with just a little hardwork they can grow out of it - especially when you were born in a society that provides more or less equal opportunity and rewards achievment- unlike those of us born in places like Africa(with all you probably know about it already)

Again, you are looking at the small picture. I like to take a look at the whole. None of you have actually followed her case file or seen all the evidence provided in the case. None of you actually saw or withness the shooting and the killing. In her case it is difficult to actually tell if she was an accomplice to Murder or if she was just a withness. See full story, according to Carlifornia law at that time, you become an accomplice if you are present. Given the circumstances behind her story the credibility of the case is not too strong for a life sentence. The case concluded without any evidence to proof she murdered two people. It was access to Murder. The guy hang him self while in custody and that leaves her to it. Could the case and verdict have been different if the boy friend was alive to take responsibility and or give his own version of the case. When you study her case more closely, please google all over, ask her lawyers for her case file. You will begin to agree that giving the circumstances, 27 years would already be fair enough. I believe in prevention before cure and that goes into the ways we manage our society. In the past it was capital punishment, deat sentence, it took humans many years to realize that. We are still struggling to reach our next level of enlightenment. Most of you today have condemned Sweden and the Swedish way of rehabilitation and reintegration. I think Sweden is more closer to that state of Englightenment than most countries. Society should do more to take care of citizens welfare, healthcare, than doing more to throw all our youths in Prison. More youth centers, more youth parks, more youth hobbies, more youth education and awareness on drugs, addicitives, and so on. Its also expensive for your so called tax dollars to get as more people criminalized and remanded in custody. Peace!

One thing I don't understand with this is how Swedish authorities can have any say about releasing her. According to a late friend who had worked with a number of such cases when he was employed by the Foreign Ministry one major argument for being able to take home a citizen from a foreign prison is the understanding that the country that has sentenced hir decides when s/he is to be let out again. Either Sweden is blatantly undermining the possibility for other Swedish prisoners to serve time in a Swedish prison instead or there is a secret OK from California that we haven't heard about.

The troubling aspect to the Östberg case is her willful participation in the murder of a law enforcement officer. Emphasis on "willful". Such a crime warrants the harshest of penalties. Her release ought NOT therefore be entertained. Let "life" mean "life". The Östberg case cries out for it. Society's need for punishment and revenge are valid concepts.

Very interesting to read everyone's comments on this.

One thing I've never understood is why there's more punishment for killing people in law enforcement - doesn't that suggest police lives are more valuable than lives of other people?

stainsbod, not all Americans are bararians. Actually, most Americans are not barbarians at all. We, like I presume you, love our country, family, religion, homes, children, parents, mother nature, friends, grandparents and so on and so on as much as any civilized country. Thank you.

Glad to see that she is out of the clutches of the United States.

Sorry to see that all of the Wall Street criminals, including one Goldman Sacs criminal now in the good graces of Obama, are not in prison where they belong.

That is the action of a free country and the so-called leader of the free-world. What can anyone expect.

It is amazing how it seems Swedes don't have to be responsible for their actions.

It's always some one else responsibility. I.E.

If a swede does a crime, they only serve 2/3 of the sentance. what about the victim?

must have been their fault!!!

Welfare, how about receiving the fruits of your labor and if your lazy you don't get anything.

And about the U.S. who would you call if your country gets taken over by a neighbor that kept their Army. you would call on NATO or the U.S. wouldn't you?

Feel the " Englightenment " when you run out of money or you need Help.

Oh, wait you did help the Nazi's didn't you.

All we have also heard is her version of the story anywas. Even the material on the website about her is only presented in a manner as to paint her as an innocent victim of circumstances or society-quite typical of Sweden where individual responsibility remains an alien concept. People wake up! This woman was an adult, pretty woman who wanted to live life on the fast lane, making conscious decisions - that put her in awkward and dangerous circumsntances - decisions against which she was probably well advised by friends and relatives but se ignored them- e.g how can a reasonable person opt to go and plead guilty for murders she did not commit all so that the culprit she so loved could be release and sh takes her place, if at all that version is to be believed anyways. Whatever the case - she has only herself to blame for her misfortune pont slut!

In the coarse of my life I have encountered individuals who have risen above extreme poverty, war-torn backgrounds, heroin addiction, American Ghettos, ect. to become outstanding individuals. I have also people who where born into privilage, wealth, extraordinary good-looks fall into criminality and merciless violence. As an adult you choose your own path....and the subsequent consequences. Annika could have turned and walked away, gotten out of the car, went to the store and never come back, ect. instead of participating in criminality.