Sweden edition

Annika Östberg 'not ready' for life out of prison: prosecutor

Published: 4 Nov 09 08:16 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/23060/20091104/

Annika Östberg, who was recently transferred from the United States to Sweden to serve out a lifetime prison sentence, isn’t yet ready to re-enter society, according to prosecutors.

Annika Östberg moves closer to release (25 Aug 09)
Secret meeting behind jail transfer: Reinfeldt (8 Apr 09)
Annika Östberg lands in Sweden (8 Apr 09)

Chief prosecutor Gunnar Brodin believes Östberg, who was convicted in California in 1981 for being an accessory to two murders, including a police officer, will need a long time to adjust to life outside of prison.

As a result, he thinks it’s still too early to change her life sentence, the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper reports.

On Monday, Östberg is to appear before the district court in Örebro in central Sweden to make her case for having her sentence reduced.

Brodin believes Östberg “hasn’t in any way faced a drug free life of freedom and the challenges that come with it,” according to DN.

At the time of the two murders for which she was convicted for serving as an accomplice, Östberg was abusing both drugs and alcohol.

Sweden's Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården) has already given approval to having Östberg’s sentence reduced and sees no reason to deny her an early release.

The National Board of Forensic Medicine (Rättsmedicinalverket), however, believes there is a medium-high risk that Östberg would relapse into a life of crime, an assessment which could complicate her bid to convince the court to approve her request.

According to the medical agency, Östberg would need a long transitional period before she could be set free.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Fark It!	Digg This	Share everywhere
Send to a friend	Printable version	Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

09:33 November 4, 2009 by villjobba

Exactly! She should stay right there where she belongs!

Report abuse »

09:42 November 4, 2009 by Luckystrike

She gets a life sentance in the US, they agree to transfer the nut here to serve out her prison time and the first order of the day is helping the freak to be released ????? WT F

Report abuse »

10:22 November 4, 2009 by Åskar

A late friend of mine, who was a diplomat and had handled a number of similar cases, once told me that there is absolutely no way that we can take home a prisoner from abroad just to release him. It's always the country that has sentenced him that decides if and when he will be released. I can only conclude that California has given Sweden an OK in this case.

Report abuse »

13:04 November 4, 2009 by Beynch

With Östberg a willing participant - `Murder 1` - of a law enforcement officer, one hopes that she never, ever, gets ready for "life out of prison". In many states this is a capital offence, although it is unclear if this would have been the case in California where this murderess' heinous crime took place. Let her rot. No parole. Ever! Kriminalvården is out of its feeble mind as they obviously do not represent the will of the Swedish people. They are operating, not in the best interest of Sweden, but with its own social ageeeeenda. Rättsmedicinalverket seem to have the finger on the pulse. Do not let this killer out!! According to Rättsmedicinalverket there is a "medium to high risk that [this killer] would relapse in to a life of crime". It is us who need to be protected. Not the killer!!

Report abuse »

13:40 November 4, 2009 by mastersamuel

These comments are completely ignorant and absurd. Annika Östberg was convicted as the article reads in 1981 - 28 years ago - for a crime essentially concocted and perpetrated by her late boyfriend. She was an accessory to murder and an acting accomplice, yet there has never been any proof she fired a gun at all during the incident. She has been locked up for 28 years under a ridiculously strict American judicial system essentially carrying the endless weight of pressure from partisan religious institutions. If these events had played out within any democratic European judicial system she would have been allowed to re-enter into society long ago. Annika is not blameless, but she is a massive victim of her circumstances. I hope that she finds the path to rehabilitation into society and I wish her well.

Report abuse »

14:46 November 4, 2009 by DAVID T

On April 30, 1981, Östberg and her boyfriend Bob Cox robbed and killed the ex-restaurant owner Joe Torre. Östberg sold stolen meat to restaurants and had made an appointment in a warehouse with Torre. While she pretended to put the meat out of the truck Bob Cox shot him. They robbed Torre and drove away. Next day on the highway their vehicle became disabled. Sgt. Helbush stopped to render aid to Cox and Ostberg-Deasy. According to the local district attorney from Lake County, CA, Lester Fleming, he has stated that evidence exists that leads one to believe that Ostberg may actually have shot Sgt Helbush as he walked back to his patrol car. The conflicting story that Ostberg-Deasy states is this: While Östberg pretended to search for a drivers license that didn't exist, Cox shot Helbush in the back of the head. Östberg told Cox to get rid of the body and steal the policeman's wallet before the couple stole the police car.

Report abuse »

15:07 November 4, 2009 by Beynch

Thank you David T. I rest my case!

Report abuse »

16:16 November 4, 2009 by Luckystrike

Mastersamuel, are you currently the Swedish justice minister by any chance ? Your comment would make sense then..

Report abuse »

17:03 November 4, 2009 by DAVID T

As Helbush did not report back, a patrol soon found his body. Policeman Don Anderson got the alarm and discovered his colleague's stolen police car on a road in the Cobb Mountains area. After a short pursuit, Cox crashed the stolen car in an sharp curve near the intersection 175/Dry Creek Road 38°45′33″N 122°38′30″W / 38.759178°N 122.641701°W / 38.759178; -122.641701. During the shootout, in which Östberg helped Cox to reload the guns, Cox was wounded by several shots from the police and gave up. Östberg tried to reach a gun before a police officer grabbed her and put her on the ground.[10] Östberg explained the crimes in detail in the hearings but blamed her drug abuse. However, drug tests showed that she was not 'high' at the time.[1][11][12]

Report abuse »

#10

17:32 November 4, 2009 by mastersamuel

I think that people that try and argue against me by copying and pasting Wikipedia have already lost the argument...

@ Luckystrike:

No, I am not the Swedish justice minister. As far as I know Beatrice Ask has no dealings with this case. If she thought in the same way as you guys do then presumably she would have. If however, she thought in the same way as you guys do, she would not be the Swedish justice minister.

Report abuse »

#11

18:05 November 4, 2009 by jose_s

maybe another 20 years will get her ready..

Report abuse »

#12

18:11 November 4, 2009 by insect

This Anika is an idiot

She should have convinced her boyfriend to come live in Sweden with her. After he had become her Sambo, they should have then committed the crime, because he would have been jailed for two months while Anika sued someone for the stress she went through during the criminal acts.

Report abuse »

#13

22:59 November 4, 2009 by Rebel

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_13711510?source=most_viewed

Unlike Sweden, if you murder a youngster in the USA you might actually get a sentence you deserve.

Report abuse »

#14

02:08 November 5, 2009 by volvoman9

Or you could be locked up for mere possession of an innocuous substance like pot. Lets face it Rebel no one has the perfect penal system least of all the US. Our prisons are bloated with the victims of the ridiculous "war on drugs". This country is doomed to repeat the failures of history. I believe wholeheartedly in the punishment fitting the crime but this is all to often skewed by the crowd mentality of the theocratic conservative subculture that is growing in the US. We could easily become the thing we purport to fear most. A fundamentalist theocracy. Kill anyone who does not believe as you do eh? Sound familiar?

Report abuse »

#15

09:24 November 5, 2009 by DAVID T

She should have got the chair - wonder how the victims family's feel about this

Report abuse »

#16

20:45 November 5, 2009 by mkvgtired

mastersamuel, maybe the next person she kills will be you or your family. I guess it is a risk you are willing to take so she can be "rehabilitated". Dont expect anyone to come to your rescue either, they will be fined $7000 and given a one year jail sentence.

DAVID T, Thanks for the posts. "She should have got the chair - wonder how the victims family's feel about this"? Probably the same as the families of the 270 victims of the Lockerbie bombing when another European judicial system released a murderer. How did the "soft power" request for a low key return to Libya turn out again?

Report abuse »

#17

14:42 November 6, 2009 by Twiceshy

These scum have attacked an Enforcer of Justice. Therefor, the only sentence is death.

Death to those who attack the forces of Justice and Light ! Death to those who challenge the authority of the Great Hammer!

Report abuse »

Today's headlines

Swedish blogger snaps commuting 'macho men'

A Stockholm woman fed up with male passengers on public transport taking up the space of women sitting next to them, has started a blog snapping secret pics of straddle-legged commuters and posting them on the internet. READ (29 COMMENTS) »

Swedish town gives 'Negro Village' new name

A suburb of Mjällby, southern Sweden, known by locals as ‘Negro Village’ for forty years, will be changing its name after a storm of recent attention. READ (9 COMMENTS) »

German 'tourist' living in Gothenburg airport

A 27-year-old German man has been living at the Gothenburg Landvetter airport for two months having no wish to return to Germany and nowhere to go in Sweden. READ (12 COMMENTS) »

Dramatic rise in dementia numbers in Sweden

Every second Swede is at risk of developing dementia, according to a new study from Umeå University, which concentrated on the 85+ population in northern Sweden. READ »

Masked man raped cyclist in Malmö park

After a 28-year-old woman was pulled off her bicycle and raped by an unidentified assailant in Malmö over the weekend, and police are fearing it could be the work of a budding serial rapist. READ (13 COMMENTS) »

Narcolepsy victims in new compensation bid

Families of children in Sweden suffering from narcolepsy caused by vaccination for the swine flu can expect some form of compensation, Swedish health minister Göran Hägglund said on Sunday in response to new calls for help from parents. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Löfven ready to negotiate over nuclear power

The new leader of the Social Democrats Stefan Löfven has indicated he's ready to negotiate with the government over the future of nuclear power despite a previous party decision to phase out nuclear energy in Sweden. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

One in five Swedes 'believes in ghosts'

One in five Swedes believes that people rise from the grave after they've died, a new survey has shown. READ (14 COMMENTS) »

More National

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »

Click here to get more from Follow Sweden

Today's most read Today's most commented

In cooperation with DoToday

Jobs in Sweden, in English

516 jobs available
217 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Jobs available: 516

Show all jobs in Sweden

Noticeboard

13/02 Apartment Needed Immediately
13/02 a room available for rent
12/02 Appartment in Gulmarsplan
12/02 Apartment available in Kista.
12/02 Rivstart A1+A2 - One last set , hurry !!
12/02 Need a room or apartment to rent in södertälje

SHOW ALL NOTICES »

Discuss

00:31 What does that mean?
00:27 Baseball in Gothenburg?
23:26 Pop tarts in Stockholm
23:19 Had problems with my boyfriend
23:09 Working with no knowledge of Swedish?
22:46 Tax deductible for rented property
22:41 Skattereduktion after buying an apartment
21:04 Which song are you currently listening to?
20:45 Should I ask her on a date or not?
20:10 Irish Girl has just moved to Sweden!

FULL INDEX »
JUST THE NEWS »
LATEST TOPICS »

Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se

Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp

Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com

The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS

English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE

Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now

Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se

Advertise