Convicted Swedish serial killer retracts confessions

Dec 15, 2008, 14:37 GMT

Stockhom - A Swedish man convicted of eight murders has retracted his confessions and was to appeal to clear his name, his lawyer said Monday.

In a television documentary broadcast Sunday evening by Swedish broadcaster SVT, Thomas Quick retracted his earlier confessions.

Lawyer Thomas Olsson said he would file an appeal on behalf of Quick, who has also confessed to 14 other murders although he was not convicted of those crimes.

The killings he was convicted of took place 1976-1998, and included a Dutch couple who were camping. Quick was in each case sentenced to psychiatric care. He has alleged he was sexually abused as a child.

'I didn't commit any of the murders I was convicted of,' 58-year-old Quick said in the documentary.

Quick's confessions were according to the documentary attributed to his wish to get attention - not the least from staff treating him at various psychiatric institutions - as well as the effects of strong medication he was given for his severe anxiety attacks.

Quick's case has generated headlines and several legal experts as well as relatives of some of his victims have previously questioned his guilt.

The documentary suggested at least one of the main investigators may have provided Quick with information he used during his confession.

Chancellor of Justice Goran Lambertz two years ago said he was convinced the convictions were correct.

'The assessments I made were based on his confessions of the murders,' Lambertz told Swedish radio news on Monday.

Lambertz said if evidence clearing Quick's guilt was deliberately withheld, it would be a violation of legal procedures. But he said he would not intervene in the case pending Quick's appeal.

Chief prosecutor Christer van der Kwast has declined to comment the documentary pending a coming installment.