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THE TRIAL OF PETER MANGS

SNIPER

Malmö sniper appeals murder convictions

Malmö's "serial sniper" Peter Mangs appeared in the local Court of Appeals on Monday as he battled to overturn two murder convictions, while prosecutors are looking to have him convicted for additional crimes.

Malmö sniper appeals murder convictions

Mangs was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for two murders and five attempted murders.

In the run up to trial, which put an end to what Malmö residents called a period of terror as an unknown gunman targeted mostly foreign-born victims in the southern city, the police attempted to tie Mangs to several more attacks but inconclusive forensic evidence stood in their way.

Mangs, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, now wants to have the convictions overturned.

In November, he was also convicted of vandalism, violent assault and perverting the course of justice.

However, the Malmö District Court was not unanimous in its decision, with one lay judge stating Mangs should only be convicted of one murder.

He was acquitted of several charges, including a third murder, another five attempted murders, and one conspiracy to commit murder charge.

All in all, he was charged with 12 attempted murders in which he allegedly fired numerous shots with his Glock 19 pistol at homes, businesses and cars as well as out in the open, seriously injuring a number of people and coming close to killing many others.

Mangs “has ruthlessly ruined many people’s lives. He is completely indifferent (to their suffering). It is clear that this has been a lifestyle for Peter Mangs,” chief prosecutor Solveig Wollstad told the court at the time.

Mangs has from the start protested his innocence.

TT/The Local/at

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PETER MANGS

Swedish sniper wanted to ignite ‘gang warfare’

Convicted Swedish sniper Peter Mangs came close to confessing to another two murders on Tuesday, commenting on the string of attacks he had denied in court but now says were meant to create tensions in Sweden's multicultural city.

Swedish sniper wanted to ignite 'gang warfare'

Mangs, who was jailed last year in Malmö, southern Sweden, told the regional Sydsvenskan newspaper on Tuesday that his goal with the series of shootings that terrorized the city was to incited gang warfare. On Monday, he confirmed that he had killed 20-year-old Trez West Persson.

The interview also contained quotes that came close to a confession to two further murders, after telling the paper’s reporter on Monday that he had shot Persson and seriously injured her companion, in a parked car in Malmö.

Her companion, Mangs’ intended target, survived and gave evidence at the trial in Malmö. His short hair revealed a long scar snaking across his skull, the physical reminder of the attack which he told court had altered his life for ever.

Mangs told the paper that the man did not look “like a criminal”, rather that the circumstances pointed to him being a lawbreaker, and that this was enough for the serial killer to feel the need to strike.

“It was a hunt! When the right opportunity presented itself, one that filled all the right criteria, then the idea was to do it,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mangs continued his saga by telling Sydsvenskan that he had engaged in target practice across the entire city at least a hundred times.

Mangs was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for two murders and five attempted murders. In April, he was convicted of another three attempted murders by the Malmö appeals court (hovrätten). The Supreme Court denied his lawyers a chance to appeal.

Mangs was also charged with killing two men aged 23 and 66, in 2003, as well as the 20-year-old Swedish woman in 2009.

As many of his victims had immigrant backgrounds, the attacks spread fear in Sweden’s most multicultural city before Mangs was apprehended by the police. Swedish police grappled with his motives, as Mangs had no clear cut ideological profile, but has spoken about his disdain for criminals.

He was also charged with a slew of attempted murders in which he fired numerous shots with his Glock 19 pistol at homes, businesses and cars as well as out in the open, seriously injuring a number of people and coming close to killing many others.

The Swedish prosecutor who headed the case against him, Solveig Wollstad, said on Monday that the confession may help Persson’s family.

TT/The Local/at

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