Swede Pleads Innocent in Palme Death
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STOCKHOLM — A 41-year-old Swede with a long criminal record pleaded innocent Friday to charges of killing Prime Minister Olof Palme in a case that has frustrated this orderly nation for nearly three years.
Christer Pettersson was arraigned at Stockholm District Court, and a judge ordered him held for further questioning. Press reports hailed his arrest Wednesday as a breakthrough in the investigation.
Palme, a four-term prime minister who championed leftist causes and disarmament, was killed Feb. 28, 1986, while walking home unguarded from a movie in downtown Stockholm with his wife.
Pettersson covered his face with his hands as police escorted him into a room at police headquarters, where the hearing was held.
Public records show Pettersson has a history of psychiatric treatment and drug and alcohol abuse.
His record shows convictions for at least 63 offenses, including manslaughter for stabbing an alleged drug addict to death in 1970 a few blocks from where Palme was killed.
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