Self-confessed serial killer 'should not have been convicted'
The convictions of serial killer Thomas Quick are unsafe and should be overturned, a lawyer for one of the men he is convicted of killing has said.
Quick, 56, has been convicted of eight murders, but many have long argued that his convictions, which are grounded largely on his own confessions, are not safe.
Pelle Svensson, lawyer for the parents of Johan Asplund who went missing in 1980 and for whose murder Quick was convicted, has looked at material for all eight investigations. He has also reviewed the courts' judgments.
In a scathing submission to the Chancellor of Justice, Svensson argues that the courts were tricked in the original trials. He refers to the Quick cases as "an enormous miscarriage of justice".
Svensson says his evidence shows that the judgments against Quick were unsafe, and claims that prosecutors and police officers are guilty of gross professional misconduct. The cases also show serious failings in the justice system, he says.
Johan Asplund's parents have long been convinced that Quick did not commit the crimes for which he was convicted. No forensic evidence was found linking Quick to any of the eight murders.
In two of the cases Quick gave information in court that had not been available to the public. But it has been claimed that he found out the information during questioning, and then repeated it in court.
Comments
See Also
Quick, 56, has been convicted of eight murders, but many have long argued that his convictions, which are grounded largely on his own confessions, are not safe.
Pelle Svensson, lawyer for the parents of Johan Asplund who went missing in 1980 and for whose murder Quick was convicted, has looked at material for all eight investigations. He has also reviewed the courts' judgments.
In a scathing submission to the Chancellor of Justice, Svensson argues that the courts were tricked in the original trials. He refers to the Quick cases as "an enormous miscarriage of justice".
Svensson says his evidence shows that the judgments against Quick were unsafe, and claims that prosecutors and police officers are guilty of gross professional misconduct. The cases also show serious failings in the justice system, he says.
Johan Asplund's parents have long been convinced that Quick did not commit the crimes for which he was convicted. No forensic evidence was found linking Quick to any of the eight murders.
In two of the cases Quick gave information in court that had not been available to the public. But it has been claimed that he found out the information during questioning, and then repeated it in court.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.