The attack took place in the small town of Töreboda, central Sweden, last October. After breaking into the woman's house the killer attacked the pensioner and left her for dead.

He also brutally assaulted the woman's son who was upstairs at the time. The son survived the attack and alerted police who sped to the area, where they described the fire as "raging".

The man then torched the house and fled the scene by moped before he was arrested by police officers who opened fire. When he was apprehended he had a number of stolen items which he had swiped from the burning house. 

At the Skaraborg District Court the man was convicted of murder, arson and attempted murder of the woman's son. He was also ordered to pay damages to the victim's estate and to both of her children. 

The killer underwent a psychiatric evaluation where it was found that the wasn't suffering from any serious mental disorder.

However, a further examination by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsens vetenskapliga) revealed that the man was suffering from a mental disturbance, but not to such an extent that would prevent a prison sentence.

The prosecutor had sought a life sentence.  

The Local/pr