Murder in Swedish law
In Sweden, the following homicide offenses exist:
- Murder (Swedish: Mord) is defined as an intentional killing and is punishable with imprisonment between 10 and 18 years or life imprisonment. (3-1 § of the Penal Code)
- Manslaughter (Dråp) (roughly corresponds to voluntary manslaughter). It is defined as murder when it is less severe, either due to the circumstances or the crime itself and is punishable by 6 to 10 years. (3-2 §). The law reads: "If, in view of the circumstances that occasioned the act or for some other reason, an offence referred to in Section 1 is considered less serious, the person is guilty of manslaughter and is sentenced [...]"
- Infanticide (Barnadråp) is murder committed by a mother on her child "when, owing to her confinement, she is in a disturbed mental state or in grave distress", punishable with any prison term up to 6 years. (3-3 §)
- Causing the death of another (Vållande till annans död, literally 'causing another's death'). It roughly corresponds to negligent homicide or involuntary manslaughter. The law reads: "A person who causes the death of another person through negligence is guilty of causing the death of another and is sentenced [...]" The punishment for Vållande till annans död is:
- A fine (day-fines) if the crime is petty,
- Any prison term up to 2 years, or
- Any prison term between 1 year and 6 years "if the offence is gross".
Any person under 18 (but not under the age of 15) is sentenced as a ratio of what an adult would receive. Furthermore, people under 15 may be convicted of crimes, but not subject to legal punishment.