Prosecutors call 45-year-old Bodom triple murder premeditated and brutal

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The prosecution says that defendant Nils Gustafsson murdered his three teenage friends after serious consideration and in a very brutal manner during a camping trip on the shore of Bodom Lake 45 years ago.
      According to the prosecutors’ interpretation of events, Gustafsson cut open the tent where the victims were sleeping, and killed Tuulikki Mäki, Irmeli Björklund, and Seppo Boisman using a knife and a blunt object, such as a large stone. No actual murder weapons were ever found.
      At the first preparatory session of Gustafsson’s trial at Espoo District Court, prosecutors called for a life sentence for the 63-year-old Gustafsson for the three murders.
     
Police records say that the three victims died on June 5th, 1960 between the hours of four and six in the morning. Prosecutors say that the traces of blood on the shoes belonging to Gustafsson show that he was wearing them at the time.
      They say that the motive for the killing was an argument and jealousy. He was said to have had some kind of a relationship going on with Björklund, and her injuries were much more severe than those of the others.
     
In the preliminary investigation, the police conclude that Gustafsson’s actual injuries during the attack were not nearly as serious as had been assumed previously.
      Statements by experts say that his worst injuries were a concussion, or small bruise on the brain, fractures in the jaw and facial bones, and bruises on the face.
      The fresh results suggest that Gustafsson’s injuries would not have led to unconsciousness, or incapacitated him, and police find it strange that he would have survived such a vicious attack with so few injuries.
      Police found it strange that the physically largest person in the group of four was left alive by the presumed attacker. They also ask why Gustafsson did not go for help, or ask for assistance from bird watchers who showed up at about six in the morning. The police point out that there were no traces of DNA from any outsiders. Gustafsson's defence team has claimed that the murders were committed by a person or persons unknown outside the group of four campers.
     
The main part of the trial begins on August 16th, and is expected to extend into early September.
      The trial is likely to include a field trip to the scene of the crime.
      Witnesses are expected to include medical experts. Also taking the stand will be police officers who have investigated the case over the years.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Bodom Lake murder trial begins in Espoo (4.8.2005)
  Age cannot wither murder, nor dispel its curious charm (6.4.2004)

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