Mijailo Mijailović, sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Swedish minister Ana Lind in 2003, said in a published interview that he committed the crime "out of hatred for politicians".
"I felt hatred towards politicians, both Swedish and Serbian. I held them responsible for my failures," said Mijailović, a Swede of Serbian origin, in an interview with the Swedish tabloid "Expressen".
"I lived on small benefits for unemployment and sickness, I had no education, no future. I was a man without a job, without a car, without friends, without any chance"
"I lived on small benefits for unemployment and sickness, I had no education, no future. I was a man without a job, without a car, without friends, without any chance," he added.
During the trial in 2004, the thirty-two-year-old Mijailović did not explain why he attacked the then head of diplomacy with a knife, but only said that he "heard voices" that told him to do it.
"I didn't hear any voices, it was a fabrication," he said, explaining that he made up the "story" to be declared insane and avoid prison time.
After the arrest, the police found out as part of the investigation that the young man had a record as a psychiatric patient. Since he was convicted, he has been in psychiatric hospitals for treatment several times, and in one such hospital he gave an interview to journalists.
Mijailović spoke in Serbian, and in the conversation he explained that he did not attack Ana Lind because of her support for the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999 and that this fact "has nothing to do" with his crime.
As he said, if he had the chance, he would have attacked another politician, but on the fateful September 10, 2003, he was carrying a knife, and he accidentally ran into Lindova in front of the shopping center.
He decided to follow her while she was shopping with a friend, when she was not accompanied by a bodyguard, he added.
Mijailović also said that with this confession he wanted to "explain the reasons for his crime", and that he will not ask for an early release from prison, and that he does not expect to be forgiven.
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