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Appeal by two sentenced for arson attack on Swedish artist's home
Sep 6, 2010, 10:55 GMT
Stockholm - Two brothers sentenced in July for an arson attack on the home of the Swedish artist notorious for depicting the prophet Mohammed as a dog asked to be acquitted as their appeal trial opened on Monday.
Lars Vilks has generated controversy and received numerous threats since 2007 for his drawing of Mohammed.
The two men, aged 20 and 21, were convicted by a court in Helsingborg, southern Sweden, for the attack in May. The older brother was sentenced to three years while the younger man received a two-year jail term.
At the appeal court hearing in Malmo their lawyers asked that the brothers be acquitted, or that their sentences be lowered.
The lower court ruled that the two had attempted to set fire to the artist's home. Vilks was not at home at the time of the attack.
The facade of the house was slightly damaged when a lit, petrol- filled plastic bottle was thrown through a window of the house, igniting a curtain.
The prosecution noted that police found the men's jackets near the house containing cash cards and keys.
Further, an investigation of a computer in their home showed it had been used for several searches related to Vilks.
The younger brother was also treated for burn injuries at a hospital in Helsingborg shortly after the attack.
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