Knutby sect killing to become movie

The Knutby sect murder in January 2004 is set to become the subject of a movie, but the plans have incurred the wrath of Pentecostalists.

• No new probe into Knutby sect murder (19 Dec 07)
• Knutby pastor demands new inquiry (15 Nov 07)
• Knutby Special (30 Apr 04)

Journalist Karin Swärd is behind the plans for the movie which will go on general release in cinemas across the country in time for Christmas and will be broadcast on TV4 next spring.

A representative for the congregation, Kim Wincent says that, "it feels unpleasant to make a movie about these events. We shall try to conduct a dialogue with the journalists behind the movie."

Swärd has previously made a documentary film for TV4 about the sect murder. The movie will mix in documentary archive footage with drama scenes over the events before, during and after the murder and attempted murder in Knutby in January 2004.

Kim Wincent, talking to Christian website Dagen, thinks that the movie could constitute a breach of contract arguing that, "when TV4 made its documentary we had an agreement that recorded material could only be used in the documentary. If any of the material is used now then they would be breaching that contract."

Karin Swärd rejects this arguing that there is no such contract and that the congregation's fears are based on a misunderstanding of their agreement.

Knutby, a village near Uppsala, became notorious across Sweden when Alexandra Fossmo, wife of Helge Fossmo, a pastor in the local pentecostal church, was found murdered in the early hours of January 10th 2004. Her neighbour 30-year-old Daniel Linde was also shot and seriously injured.

26-year-old Sara Svensson, previously employed as a nanny to the Fossmos, confessed to the killings.

Helge Fossmo was later charged with the murder of his first wife, Héléne Fossmo, found dead in her bath tub in 1999.

In July 2004 Helge Fossmo was convicted and sentence to life imprisonment for instigated murder and attempted instigated murder although acquitted on charges relating to the death of his first wife. Sara Svensson was sentenced to institutional psychiatric care.

The Local reported in its "Knutby Special" on April 30th 2004 that the case included all the elements of a movie. Now it seems that prediction is set to become realized.