Two teens held in probe of 18-year-old's killing

Two 16-year-old boys have been detained in connection with last week’s murder of an 18-year-old woman in the Hjällbo district of Gothenburg after police traced the woman’s missing mobile phone.

• Woman beaten to death in Gothenburg (30 Dec 09)

The first 16-year-old was taken in for questioning on Saturday and is being held on suspicion of having protected a criminal.

The second teen was questioned by police on Sunday.

Police view the development as a positive step in the investigation over the murdered 18-year-old, who was found severely beaten early on Wednesday morning of last week and later died from her injuries.

“It’s really important. It’s one piece of the puzzle which has fallen into place,” police spokesperson Thomas Fuxborg told the TT news agency.

According to the GT/Expressen newspaper, police located the the first 16-year-old by tracing the missing woman’s mobile phone.

While police refused to comment on the information, sources told the newspaper that the telephone was traced to the neighbourhood where the boy lives.

According to the Aftonbladet newspaper, both of the people held in connection with the killing are 16-years-old, although police also declined to confirm their ages or reveal what the twl said during their interrogations.

Despite the important step forward, police have yet to arrest anyone on suspicions of murdering the woman.

Both boys remain in police custody, although it is unclear if prosecutors will request a formal remand hearing for the two teens.

Police believe the 18-year-old was walking home from a nearby party when the attack occurred. He was found outside a few hundred metres from her home at 2.30am Wednesday morning. She had been subjected to extreme violence.

A broken bottle was found at the scene, and police are still seeking tips about a large bottle of Pommac sparkling cider.