A 15-year-old boy has been convicted for the murder of a 52-year-old father of nine who was shot dead outside a restaurant in Uppsala. The court sentenced him to closed youth custody despite his claims that he wanted to withdraw from the murder contract.
The teenager admitted to carrying out the shooting after accepting a paid murder assignment from unknown individuals through an online chat. During the trial, he explained that he felt forced to complete the killing due to threats against him. The court determined these circumstances did not provide sufficient grounds to avoid conviction.
Court official Karin Lambertz stated in a press release that an adult committing the same crime would have received a life sentence. Swedish law prohibits life imprisonment for children, reflecting the country's approach to juvenile justice that emphasizes rehabilitation over pure punishment.
Prosecutors had sought deportation for the 15-year-old, but the district court rejected this request. Lambertz noted the boy has strong ties to Sweden and minimal connection to his country of origin, where he doesn't speak the language and has no family contacts.
A 17-year-old boy also received closed youth custody for assisting the murder by providing the shooter with a pistol and a hand grenade. The investigation revealed the victim was likely not the intended target of the shooting.
Prosecutor Andreas Nyberg previously indicated the teenager had accepted a vague assignment to shoot someone at the restaurant location. After the killing, the boy fled on an electric scooter and jumped into the Fyris River before police apprehended him.
The murdered man had arrived in Sweden from Egypt just months earlier to work. Family members said he came to save money for his children's weddings. He left behind a wife and nine children in Egypt, six of whom are minors.
The investigation has not identified who was the actual target of the shooting. Three additional individuals aged 15 to 17 face charges for failing to report the planned murder.
This case highlights growing concerns about youth involvement in organized crime across Swedish cities. Contract killings involving teenagers represent an alarming trend that challenges traditional approaches to juvenile crime prevention. The use of encrypted chats for criminal coordination complicates law enforcement efforts while exposing vulnerable young people to serious violence.
Sweden's youth custody system focuses on rehabilitation through education, therapy, and structured activities. Sentences typically range from two years to indefinite terms, with regular evaluations determining release dates. The system faces increasing pressure as more serious crimes involve younger offenders.
International readers should understand that Sweden's legal approach to juvenile offenders differs significantly from many other countries. The emphasis remains on reintegration rather than pure punishment, even for severe crimes. This philosophy faces public scrutiny when young offenders commit violent acts that shock the community.