Three Afghan nationals from the same family have been arrested in Sweden on suspicion of murdering their 25-year-old female relative in an “honor killing” before burning and dumping her body in the woods.
A 44-year-old man, a 43-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old man believed to be the victim’s parents and brother were arrested last week after the woman’s body was discovered on the morning of May 4 in a shelter located in the Ekebacken nature area outside Lessebo.
Police were able to identify the body despite the woman sustaining severe injuries and being partially burned.
The suspects were arrested on Wednesday evening, and two residential homes, a garage, and a vehicle were searched. The homes remain cordoned off due to the ongoing investigation.
All three suspects were charged on Friday with murder and grave breach of peace. They remain in custody.
“There is a relationship,” public prosecutor Jonny Philipsson told the Samnytt news site, referring to the suspects and the victim.
“I’m not commenting on anything and I’m not speculating either,” he added when asked about Swedish media reports the murder was an “honor killing,” a cultural motive among the Islamic community for when a woman brings a family into perceived disrepute.
The suspects have denied murder, according to the prosecutor, who revealed an interpreter who speaks Pashto, a language commonly spoken in southern and eastern Afghanistan, has been booked for the investigation.
“What happened is an isolated incident between the people involved,” a police report from May 10 read. “The public does not need to worry about being exposed to crime due to this incident.”
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