Leif Axmyr Explained

Birth Name:Leif Bruno Axmyr
Leif Axmyr
Birth Date:11 June 1938
Birth Place:Gothenburg, Sweden
Death Place:Halmstad, Sweden
Nationality:Swedish
Criminal Charge:Two counts of murder
Criminal Penalty:Life imprisonment
Criminal Status:Released 2 June 2016, died in 2018[1]

Leif Bruno Axmyr (11June 193811October 2018) was a Swedish convicted criminal. At the time of his release in 2016, he had been imprisoned longer than any other Swedish inmate who had served a life sentence.[2] In May 1982, Axmyr was on leave from prison when he killed his ex-girlfriend and her male friend. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the double murder and other offences. In 1997, the newspaper Svenska Dagbladet stated that Axmyr was Sweden's longest-serving prisoner in a Swedish prison.[3] Örebro district court commuted his life sentence to 51 years in 2013; he was released on 2 June 2016 after serving 34 years in prison (two-thirds of his sentence).[1]

Early life

In a radio documentary in 2008, Axmyr said that he was an illegitimate child and spent his first seven years in a child care home.[4] First he lived at a child care home called Kustens, then Ekedalen, and, later, Vidkärr.[4] Axmyr stated that conditions were rough in the child care homes—abuse, such as beatings, occurred regularly.[4]

First crimes

He started committing violent offences at an early age; at seventeen he beat up his stepfather and said that he enjoyed it and would have beaten him to death if his friends had not stepped in.[5] Axmyr was first sentenced to prison for robbery in 1958 and spent, with short interruptions, almost fifty years in Swedish prisons.[6] Axmyr considered himself a leader within the prison system and incurred many infractions for violence and unlawful threats.[7] While imprisoned, he received separate mental evaluations in 1963 and 1982; both times doctors concluded that he had a personality disorder and psychopathic personality traits.[8] [9] Doctors also stated that he had an inability to control his anxiety and had impulse control problems.[9]

Murders

Axmyr was about to be released in 1982, after serving the initial 1958 sentence for robbery plus additional time for violent offences within prison, when he was allowed leave.[5] [10] On 29 May 1982, during his leave, Axmyr beat his ex-girlfriend Ulla-Britt Jakobsson and her male friend Hans Larsson to death at Jakobsson's apartment.[11] At the time of the murders, Axmyr was not aware that Hans was the son of politician Allan Larsson (later Sweden's finance minister). Before leaving, he lit fires in three different places in the apartment. Axmyr was arrested shortly after in Skutskär.[12] He was later sentenced to life imprisonment for double murder and several related crimes, including arson.[13] [14] A mental evaluation determined that Axmyr was not insane.[15] At the trial Axmyr confessed that he used a crowbar during the crime.[16] The court concluded that Axmyr murdered both persons with complete disregard for human life and that the victims had suffered before dying.[16]

Parole applications

Axmyr was denied clemency eleven times between 1999 and 2001.[17]

In November 2006, Axmyr applied to have his life term commuted to a time-limited sentence. He application was denied in November 2007.[18] He was again denied on 23 May 2008 and Axmyr appealed to the Göta Court of Appeal, which also denied the application on 28 November 2008.[19] In November 2009, he again applied to have his sentence commuted.[20] Axmyr's application was denied because he continued to commit crimes within prison, joined the criminal group Brödraskapet,[21] [22] beat up other prisoners, and threatened journalists from the newspaper Expressen.[23] [24]

On 7 May 2010, Örebro district court announced that Axmyr's application to have his sentence commuted to a time-limited sentence would be approved and that he would be released in 2013.[25] A time limit of 46 years and six months was set. The Göta Court of Appeal later overturned the district court ruling.[26] Axmyr then appealed to the High Court. On 17 March 2011, the High Court refused to hear the case.[27]

Because he consistently violated rules, Axmyr had all of his approved leave days withdrawn in 2006. In 2013, his approved leave days from prison were reinstated.[28]

On 10 June 2013, Örebro district court again decided that Axmyr's sentence would be commuted. He was released in June 2016 after serving 34 years in prison.[29] While the court considered that there was a danger that he would reoffend and that his personality disorder and psychopathy were problematic,[30] they decided that Axmyr's failing health and old age mitigated the risk.[31]

Release and death

Axmyr was released on 2 June 2016, at the age of 78. He died two years later on 11 October 2018, at the age of 80.[32]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Efter 34 år i fängelse – nu är Leif Axmyr fri. Aftonbladet. 2 June 2016 . 11 October 2018. Swedish. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163757/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/krim/article22911702.ab. live.
  2. Web site: Vännen om Leif Axmyrs sista tid. Aftonbladet. 11 October 2018 . 11 October 2018. Swedish. 12 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190912153853/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/ddedjz/leif-axmyr-ar-dod--blev-80-ar. live.
  3. News: Fången som suttit längst: dubbelmördaren som ber om nåd . Svenska Dagbladet . 27 December 1997. Swedish.
  4. Web site: Ärrad del 2 . RadioDokumentarer . De var inte snälla då fröknarna på den tiden. Nej, utan man fick straff och i värsta fall ris i arslet så att man inte kunde sitta på flera dar. Då höll två fröknar en i armarna så och den tredje slog. . YouTube . Swedish . 27 January 2019 . 22 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181022081151/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnwapLpYg3E&gl=US&hl=en . live.
  5. News: Fängslad sedan 1982. Christina. Wahldén. Svenska Dagbladet. 11 November 2007. Swedish. 11 October 2018. 15 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140815182739/http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/fangslad-sedan-1982_582481.svd. live.
  6. Web site: Leif Axmyr om nya livet i frihet efter 34 år i fängelse. Expressen. 20 November 2016 . 11 October 2018. Swedish. 11 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181011111404/https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/leif-axmyrs-liv-i-frihet-efter-34-ar-i-fangelse/. live.
  7. Web site: Axmyrs frigivning kan skjutas upp. Aftonbladet. 25 May 2016 . 11 October 2018. Swedish. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012014546/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/krim/a/1kyRQq/axmyrs-frigivning-kan-skjutas-upp. live.
  8. Web site: Sista intervjun med Leif Axmyr. Aftonbladet. 11 October 2018 . 11 October 2018. Swedish. 11 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181011114743/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/0EbxOJ/leif-axmyr-slappt--efter-34-ar-jag-ar-ingen-psykopat/promo. live.
  9. News: Fängslad sedan 1982. Christina. Wahldén. Svenska Dagbladet. 11 November 2007. Swedish. 11 October 2018. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012014545/https://www.svd.se/fangslad-sedan-1982. live.
  10. Ida Thulin: Livstid behövs GT 25 juli 2007 "Några dagar senare skulle han frigivits från ett straff på 1,5 år för narkotikabrott och grov misshandel."
  11. Web site: Mördade ministerns son inlåst i över 20 år. Aftonbladet. 12 January 2003 . 11 October 2018. Swedish. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012053920/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/p6W73W/mordade-ministerns-son-inlast-i-over-20-ar. live.
  12. Web site: Dubbelmördaren Leif Axmyr frigiven efter 34 år i fängelse – "är uppskruvad". 2 June 2016. Arbetarbladet. 11 October 2018. Swedish. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012053913/https://www.arbetarbladet.se/artikel/blaljus/brott/dubbelmordaren-leif-axmyr-frigiven-efter-34-ar-i-fangelse-ar-uppskruvad. live.
  13. Web site: Mördade ministerns son inlåst i över 20 år. Aftonbladet. 11 October 2018. Swedish. 13 December 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101213021752/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article116022.ab. live.
  14. Web site: Leif Axmyr – Ledare . Svenska Dagbladet . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929135826/http://www.svd.se/dynamiskt/Ledare/did_4485134.asp . 29 September 2007 . Swedish.
  15. Web site: Livstidsdömde Leif Axmyr. 17 November 2007. jinge.se. 11 October 2018. Swedish. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012054028/http://jinge.se/allmant/livstidsdomde-leif-axmyr.htm. live.
  16. Web site: Jag slog en kofot i pannan på dom. Aftonbladet. 11 October 2018. Swedish. 12 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121112013302/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article116019.ab. live.
  17. News: Camilla . Norström . Regeringen vägrar benåda – år efter år . Aftonbladet . 12 January 2003 . 9. Swedish.
  18. Web site: Axmyr får inte tidsbestämt straff. Aftonbladet. 21 December 2010 . 11 October 2018. Swedish. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012014549/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/On6Lxl/axmyr-far-inte-tidsbestamt-straff. live.
  19. Web site: Leif Axmyr tidsbestämt straff . https://archive.today/20120525105008/http://www.jnytt.se/Read__19875.aspx . 25 May 2012 . jnytt.se. Swedish.
  20. Web site: Axmyr vill få tidsbestämt straff. 30 December 2009. Gefle Dagblad. 11 October 2018. Swedish. 16 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025553/https://www.gd.se/artikel/gastrikland/gavle/axmyr-vill-fa-tidsbestamt-straff. live.
  21. Web site: BSK ARKIV. bsk-arkiv. May 2009. 11 October 2018. Swedish. 25 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180625075328/http://bsk-arkiv.blogspot.com/2009/05/. live.
  22. Web site: Imläst halva sitt liv. Expressen . https://web.archive.org/web/20120118231914/http://www.expressen.se/Nyheter/1.123238/inlast-i-halva-sitt-liv . 18 January 2012 . dead .
  23. Web site: Fängelseledningen visste om planerna. Aftonbladet. 11 October 2018. Swedish. 4 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120204121608/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article226710.ab. live.
  24. Web site: Leif Axmyr misstänkts för nya brott . https://web.archive.org/web/20100513033545/http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/1.1171862/leif-axmyr-misstanks-for-nya-brott . 13 May 2010 . Expressen. Swedish.
  25. Web site: Tingsrätten omvandlar ådömt livstidsstraff. Örebro tingsrätt. 7 May 2010. 11 October 2018. Swedish. https://web.archive.org/web/20100825225837/http://www.orebrotingsratt.domstol.se/templates/DV_Press____17105.aspx. 25 August 2010. dead.
  26. News: Axmyr får avslag . Dagens Nyheter . 11 October 2018 . Swedish . 21 December 2010 . 22 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180622083724/https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/axmyr-far-avslag/ . live .
  27. Web site: Leif Axmyr blir kvar i fängelset. 17 March 2011. Arbetarbladet. 11 October 2018. Swedish. 11 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120511074141/http://arbetarbladet.se/nyheter/gavle/1.2861754-leif-axmyr-blir-kvar-i-fangelset. live.
  28. Web site: Livstidsdömde Leif Axmyr vill flytta till Halmstad . Laholmstidning . https://web.archive.org/web/20150215055458/http://www.laholmstidning.se/article/20090630/NYHETER/841312126/1196/*/TIDAHOLM/livstidsdomde-leif-axmyr-vill-flytta-till-halmstad-- . 15 February 2015 . Swedish.
  29. Web site: Jail term cut for 'most dangerous' Swedish killer. 10 June 2013. The Local. 11 October 2018. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012054247/https://www.thelocal.se/20130610/48424. live.
  30. Web site: Leif Axmyr får tidsbestämt straff. Aftonbladet. 10 June 2013 . 11 October 2018. Swedish. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222160122/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article16935983.ab. live.
  31. Web site: Swedish court reduces jail time for killer. United Press International. 11 October 2018. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012054116/https://www.upi.com/Swedish-court-reduces-jail-time-for-killer/21061370958074/. live.
  32. Web site: The double murderer Leif Axmyr died – became 80 years old. vaaju.com. 11 October 2018 . 11 October 2018.

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