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Life sentence for German woman in toddler killings

Other News Materials 16 February 2009 14:34 (UTC +04:00)

A Swedish appeal court Monday upheld a life sentence against a German woman previously convicted for beating to death two young children in Sweden, dpa reported.

Christine Schuerrer was convicted in October of killing a three- year-old boy and one-year-old girl and seriously injuring their mother in an attack on March 17, 2008.

Schuerrer, 32, was convicted without forensic evidence such as DNA or fingerprints linking her to the crime scene in Arboga, central Sweden.

The appeal court however ruled that there was "no alternative" for another assailant, and also took into account the mother's brief memories of the attack.

The lower court had in its ruling decided not to take the mother's statement into account, citing testimony from memory experts that suggested her memory was impaired as a result of the blows.

The appeal trial was held in Vasteras, 100 kilometres west of Stockholm, and opened in December.

The prosecution said there was a motive of jealousy, saying it fueled Schuerrer's wish to harm Schuerrer's ex-boyfriend and his new partner.

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