A Danish appeals court delivered a life sentence Tuesday for the murder of pregnant Louise Borglit. Alexander Toro Møllmann, 32, received the upgraded punishment after prosecutors successfully appealed his original sentence. The case dates back to November 2016 when Borglit was stabbed 11 times while walking her sister's dog in Elverparken, Herlev.
Special prosecutor Bo Bjerregaard described the life sentence as a significant escalation from the preventive detention originally imposed. Both punishments involve indefinite imprisonment, but life sentences carry stricter minimum terms. A life-sentenced prisoner must serve at least 12 years before parole consideration, while preventive detention can allow earlier release under psychiatric and judicial approval.
The breakthrough came in 2022 when police planted an undercover officer in prison. Møllmann confessed details to the officer, known only as Frank, that only the killer could know. Despite lacking physical evidence, surveillance footage, or witness testimony, the confession proved sufficient for conviction.
Legal experts note the life sentence reflects Denmark's approach to cumulative sentencing. Møllmann committed additional crimes after Borglit's murder, including an attempted murder of his girlfriend about a year later. The appeals court applied the principle of consolidated sentencing, treating all offenses as one case for punishment purposes.
Denmark's legal system reserves life sentences for particularly severe crimes. These typically include murders connected to gang conflicts, sexual homicides, or multiple killings. The court determined Møllmann's subsequent violent crimes warranted this maximum penalty.
Møllmann wasn't present for the sentencing announcement. His defense attorney stated he became ill after the guilt verdict and received permission to skip the remainder of the proceedings. The defendant instructed his lawyer not to challenge the sentencing procedure and only request the court's mildest possible punishment.
The Eastern High Court's decision is final and cannot ordinarily be appealed. Any further challenge would require special permission to reach the Supreme Court, though evidence evaluation regarding guilt cannot be reconsidered at that level.
This case highlights Denmark's evolving approach to violent repeat offenders. The judicial system demonstrates increasing willingness to impose maximum sentences when subsequent crimes reveal persistent dangerous behavior. The outcome provides some closure to a case that remained unsolved for years, though the tragedy of a pregnant woman's violent death continues to resonate throughout Danish society.