Police contacted about 19-year-old before fire at station building
On 28th August the 200-year-old extension to Åstringagården in Knislinge burns down after a young man pours petrol in a chink in the wall of the building and sets it alight.
On 24th September five cars in the town are burned out and the 19-year-old also attempts to set fire to the station building.
People are worried about where the next fire will break out in the town. The chairman of the municipal council, Patric Åberg (M), speaks of his concern in a newspaper interview.
Now information has come out which shows that the police knew very well about the fire-raiser before 24th September.
After the car fires in Knislinge on 24th September a relative of the 19-year-old gets in touch with the police again and tells them about what he suspects.
On the morning of 24th September, a few hours after the fires, it turns out that the 19-year-old's jacket and shoes smell of both petrol and smoke. A SIM-card from his telephone has also been destroyed, to make it more difficult for the police to investigate him. But nothing happens, at least outwardly, before the 19-year-old himself gets in touch with the police to confess to the fires.
Have the police any reason for self-criticism?
_ I can't say, It's up to the police to answer that question. You must remember that the crimes you mention are illegal threats, says deputy prosecutor Zebastian Trolle Liljegren.
Time-line 2021 - 22
28th August: An almost 19-year-old man burns down a 200-year-old extension to Åstringagården in Knislinge.
3rd September: The 19-year-old threatens relatives and orders them to transfer 2,000 crowns to him or else he will burn the house down. The police are informed the same day.
14th September: A previous girlfriend reports the 19-year-old to the police for threatening to set fire to her house.
24th September: Five cars are burned out in Knislinge. The 19-year-old also tries to set fire to the station building,which is built of brick.
15th November: The 19-year-old contacts the police and wants to confess to the fires.
9th February: The main hearing is held in Kristianstad district court.
15th February: The district court will deliver its verdict. On that date the 19-year-old will have been held in custody for exactly three months.
The prosecution wants a 2½ year prison sentence for offences including two cases of arson, the defence wants just under two years. Over and above a prison sentence he must pay damages.
