Two sisters in their 60s have been sentenced to prison after attempting to kill their father in his apartment in Jönköping. The district court determined that the sisters jointly subjected the man to prolonged and brutal violence – with the intent to suffocate him. The attack was linked to a bitter inheritance dispute.

During the All Saints’ weekend in November last year, the elderly man alerted authorities via his personal emergency alarm. He stated that he had been severely assaulted – and immediately identified his two daughters as the perpetrators.

When police and ambulance arrived at the scene, the man was found seriously injured with extensive wounds to his face and body. The injuries were later found to be consistent with his account of what had happened to him.

According to the district court’s judgment, the man was attacked in his home, where the sisters, among other things, tried to prevent him from breathing by putting something in his mouth while simultaneously using heavy violence against him.

Prolonged Course of Violence

The court describes the incident as a prolonged and very serious assault. The sisters are said to have restrained their father, attempted to suffocate him, and then struck him with an object, including blows to the head.

The violence resulted in several injuries, including fractures and significant bleeding. The court notes that the act demonstrated a considerable degree of ruthlessness, not least because it was directed against an elderly and physically vulnerable man in his own home.

Convicted of Attempted Murder

Even though there was no technical evidence directly linking the sisters to the crime scene, the district court found the evidence sufficient. The man’s consistent and detailed statements, together with the forensic report and other investigation materials, were decisive.

The court concluded that there is no reasonable alternative explanation for the injuries.

Both sisters – Annette Sparr, born 1961-06-12, and Susanne Sparr, born 1965-02-16 – were therefore convicted of attempted murder. The sentence is set at ten years’ imprisonment each.

Inheritance Dispute in the Background

The investigation revealed a long-standing family conflict. A central part of this concerned a will that altered how the inheritance would be distributed after the parents’ death.

The will stated that the daughters would only receive their statutory share, while the remainder would go to a grandchild. According to the prosecutor, this contributed to the discord between the sisters and their father.

Denied the Crime

The sisters have denied the accusations throughout the legal process. They claimed they were not in the apartment at the time of the attack and insisted they had no financial motive.

The district court, however, did not find their accounts credible. They are therefore convicted based on the evidence against their denials.

Criticism of the Investigation

At the same time, the court directed some criticism at the police’s initial work. Among other things, important investigative measures were delayed, and the crime scene was not sealed off immediately after the incident.

Despite this, the court considers the accumulated evidence sufficient for a conviction.

“Particularly Ruthless”

When determining the sentence, the court especially emphasized that the crime was committed by two people together and was directed at a defenseless elderly man.

According to the district court, such circumstances justified a longer prison sentence than usual.