The Unlikely Murderer (2021) s01e02 Episode Script
Episode 2
BASED ON AN UNSOLVED CRIME
[knocking on door]
- [man] Stig, may we come in?
- [Stig] Of course.
[woman] We, uh
heard about the incident.
After something like that
How
How are you feeling?
How am I feeling? Well
I feel almost empty.
And guilty.
Guilty?
Yeah, we fought so hard and we lost him.
So that's
That's difficult to deal with.
But But you
You're a hero. Truly.
Yes, that's what people say. But I
I don't see it that way.
I heard that you ran after the murderer.
Yes. But to no avail.
[telephone ringing]
Well, we'll leave you to it.
It was great to see you.
- Thanks, Stig.
- Thanks.
Hello, Engström.
Hello, this is Göran Fors
and I'm calling from the police station.
Uh-huh. Hello.
We need to go through with you
what you remember
from the night of the murder,
to get as complete a picture as possible.
- Is now a good time to talk?
- [Stig] Yes, of course.
Okay, good.
Let's get going from the beginning then.
You were at work
just before the murder, is that correct?
Yeah, it was after 11:00 in the evening.
Uh
I left to get ready
for a skiing trip with my wife.
- And what were you wearing?
- Uh, I had on a dark coat
that came down below my knees.
Um, it was buttoned up.
As you know,
it was a rather cold night.
Were you wearing anything on your head?
[elevator dings]
[Stig] Uh, just a normal cap
with different shades,
uh, no fasteners or earflaps.
So, um, what time did you leave Skandia?
Yeah, I left Skandia at 11:21 p.m.,
but I was in a hurry
to, um, catch the last train home,
so I was almost running.
Uh, then I heard a loud, uh, bang.
At first I thought,
"It's kids with firecrackers."
But then I saw the body on the ground.
Of course,
I didn't know it was Olof Palme,
but now I know it was him that was shot.
And Lisbeth Palme?
What was she doing?
Well, of course,
she was very shocked and scared,
but was also intermittently quite calm
and I was able to talk to her.
- So you spoke to her?
- Yes, I did.
- [Stig] What was he wearing?
- A blue, uh
quilted jacket.
Hmm.
Then what happened?
He He ran off that way.
I then realized I should've
told the policemen
about the blue quilted jacket,
so I ran after them to tell them about it.
But the police, I couldn't see them,
so I then decided
to turn around and go back.
And that's when I heard a witness
uh
give a description
that matched my clothes.
Did you tell the policemen
on the scene about this?
My name is Stig Engström.
I was one of
the first here after the shooting.
- Okay, sir.
- Yeah, there seems to be a mix-up
between myself
and the murderer that you're chasing.
We have all the information we need,
you to leave the crime scene.
[Stig] At that point it seemed
like the best thing to do is leave.
So that's all then.
In which case,
I have nothing more to ask you for now.
- Unless you think there's more to tell.
- No, that was all.
- Okay, thank you for your cooperation.
- Thank you. Thanks. Bye.
Bye.
[telephone line ringing]
Hi, my name is T h omas Pettersson.
I'm a journalist
with an interest in the Palme murder.
I have a theory. Could we
meet sometime so I can run it by you?
- Sven?
- Well, hello.
- Hi, Thomas. Hey.
- Hey. Hi.
Uh, I'm so glad
that you decided to see me.
I think you may be able
to help me with an article I'm writing.
Yes, it's nice that
an ordinary, normal person
is taking an interest
in the Olof Palme murder.
Yeah, well, I don't know about normal.
But I've only been onto this
for two years, you know? Unlike you.
I've been onto it for 20 years,
so I suppose I've become a sort of Nestor
of the private investigators.
Uh, for me it all started
when I read that Palme in his youth
was a collaborator with the CIA.
And, uh
I can't let go of this feeling
that there must be a link there
to the murder.
Mm.
But, um, but what?
Well, after World War II,
"Stay Behind" was formed, you know?
An underground resistance movement
against Russia, and directed by NATO.
They were in every country
in the West, even in Sweden.
And the Social Democrats
helped build Stay Behind,
I mean, with the others.
- That's right.
- Yes.
And one name comes up again and again.
Skandia.
Is that so?
Stay Behind had a base
in Skandia's cellar.
The first head of the Swedish
Stay Behind was CEO of Skandia.
Olof Palme's father and grandfather
were heads of Skandia,
and the murder
was just outside Skandia. How's that?
That can't be a coincidence.
Have you heard the name Stig Engström?
"I WAS MISTAKEN FOR THE MURDERER"
[radio announcer] At the public gallery,
several political events
- [Margareta] Morning.
- Oh, good morning.
Torsten Nilsson and Jarl Hjalmarson.
All who had worked with Palme
over his time as prime minister.
[Ulf Adelsohn] Everyone knows we have
different opinions on finding solutions
to the difficulties we face.
However, the gap between us did
not distract from the largest of these,
the fight for equality and peace.
I think I'll be home by six.
Okay. You've got some
breadcrumb on your face.
Oh.
- Have a good day.
- Okay. Thanks.
fighting the great world powers.
He was a pioneer in reforming
the welfare system, healthcare
TRIBUTE TO PALME
[announcer] Olof Palme's family
were also present at the memorial
where the Prime Minister's empty seat
was filled with flowers.
[Arne] What was
your impression of Engström?
A bit of a know-it-all.
Ha. He's just a little nerd.
Have any of the witnesses
seen Engström run after the police?
No.
Okay, so Engström leaves Skandia,
rushes towards the underground.
Then hears a shot
and sees Palme on the ground.
But that would mean he must
have passed the witness Anders Björkman
who stood behind the Palmes.
How the hell could he have missed him?
[telephone ringing in background]
- So Engström is a liar?
- Of course he's fucking lying.
Well, we can't leave it like this.
We've got to call Engström again.
You ring him this time, Lennart.
- [Stig] Good morning.
- Good morning, Stig.
- You need to ring this number.
- Oh.
The police.
- Good morning, Stig.
- Morning.
[telephone ringing]
- Lennart Granström.
- Hello.
- Uh, Stig Engström here.
- Oh, hi there, Stig.
Thanks for calling us back.
Here's the deal.
We have a couple more questions
that we'd like you to answer.
Uh, just so we don't
misunderstand each other.
- I understand.
- That's great. Uh
So, first, let's see
when you left Skandia
the night of February 28th, did you happen
to see anyone before the shots?
- Do you mean if I saw the murderer?
- Did you?
- No.
- Anyone else?
Any other witnesses nearby?
No, I saw no one.
I could have missed someone,
and there's a simple reason for that.
Roughly about where the pillar is,
I looked at my watch
which has a black face,
which makes it hard to see the time,
so because I was looking down,
I may have missed people who were nearby.
So Engström claims that he was looking
at his watch the whole time?
Apparently he was
so busy checking his watch,
making sure
he wasn't going to miss his train.
So he says he missed any other people
as well as the murder itself.
Well, hang on a sec.
That gives us
a distance of about 50 meters
of him staring at his watch.
Hmm, well, he has
an explanation for that too.
The face of the watch is black. It's dark.
So he has to look
for a long time in order to read it.
- [chuckles] Yeah.
- So it's all because it was too dark.
So Engström's staring
at his watch the entire time
and that's how he misses
both the witness Björkman
and Palme being shot.
[faint gunshots]
[Arne] Hmm.
We should talk to the witness
who mixed him up with the killer,
who said that
that he had a wrist bag.
That would prove
he was at the crime scene.
Yes, but that's not correct
because the wrist bag was first seen
on David Bagares gata.
That's where the witness
Yvonne Nieminen saw it.
Nobody mentioned the wrist bag
at the murder site.
Another thing, Mårten Palme's description
of the man at the Grand
is very interesting.
According to him, there was
a man standing in view of the cinema,
staring at them.
Description, five foot nine,
blue quilted jacket
that falls to the middle of his thighs,
a cap with some kind of clasp
Hmm. That's familiar.
And round and wire-framed glasses.
Time you brought him in.
- [door opens]
- We have a suspect.
- Who?
- In the interview room.
[interrogator]
What did you really think of Palme?
[man 2] I had mixed feelings.
I'd say I didn't like him.
[interrogator] No?
How sure are you?
We'll have to see.
[interrogator]
You were sitting at Café Mon Chèri,
two streets away from the murder scene.
You're sitting there,
chatting to some girls
and you talk about Palme
and say some quite damning things.
This 33-year-old is fucked in the head.
[interrogator] Like, you wish he was dead.
[officer] Hmm. He wished Palme dead
a few hours before the murder.
[interrogator] Is that right?
And he was right in the area.
- They have a suspect.
- Huh?
The Palme murder!
Gunhild went to get The Express.
[breathes heavily]
[tablet hissing loudly]
"The police won't reveal
any details about the suspect,
but can confirm
they've held several interrogations."
"Our sources for The Express told us
that the man held
a deep hatred towards Palme."
"On the night of the murder,
the man was located close to Sveavägen."
"The suspect comes from
the southern part of Sweden
and has a connection to
the fascist organization EAT."
33-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT IN THE PALME MURDER!
Wouldn't it be nice if it was over?
- It could really be him.
- Yeah.
Right.
We've found gunpowder residue
on the 33-year-old's jacket.
We've also got a new witness, a Frenchman.
He says that Gunnarsson
tried to force himself into his car
and escape from Brunkebergsåsen
just a few minutes after the murder.
Hmm.
How credible then
is the testimony from the Frenchman?
Well, he identified Gunnarsson in a photo.
Mm.
Come on, Hasse.
A confessed Palme hater
with gunpowder residue on his jacket,
wants a getaway from the scene
of the murder just after the shooting.
- What else are you looking for?
- I'm not looking for a mad loner.
I'm looking for a conspiracy.
A conspiracy?
[tense music playing]
THE MURDER SUSPEC
IT WAS HERE HE MET PALME
THE HATRED FORCED US TO MOVE TO THE USA
"PALME OUGHT TO BE SHOT"
THE FIGHT FOR PEACE TAKES COURAGE,
BUT PEACE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR
THANK YOU, OLOF - THE KURDS
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE
OLOF PALME, FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS - PERU
[indistinct chatter]
Uh, it turns out
one of our investigating groups
had already shown pictures
of the 33-year-old to the Frenchman,
and at that point he didn't recognize him.
But the next day, another group showed him
new photos
of the 33-year-old without knowing
well, without being aware
of what had happened the day before.
And, of course,
he then identified the 33-year-old.
What the hell are you saying?
The problem is that
we don't know if the Frenchman
recognized the 33-year-old from
the photo he was shown the day before,
or if it really was him. So
Then the Frenchman is a useless witness.
- You know that?
- Mm-hmm.
And what shall I say to the press?
Well?
They're all in there waiting for me
to arrest the 33-year-old.
But now I have to go down
and stand there and say what?
What shall I say?
Tell me what I should say
because I don't fucking know.
[indistinct chatter]
[man 3] He's here.
[camera shutters clicking]
Welcome to yet another press conference.
Todays will be a short one.
Today we have decided to let someone go.
A person who, up until this point,
had been of great interest
in this investigation.
Please don't interrupt this
as a loss of momentum.
Uh, that's not the case.
We're following several
very interesting leads
and we're still receiving
new information every day.
However, this particular person
is no longer a person of interest
in this investigation.
Thank you.
[reporters clamouring]
[clock bell chiming]
[man on TV] The past few weeks have shown
that the ideas that
Olof Palme fought for so passionately,
are felt strongly
in the hearts of the Swedish people.
[sombre music playing]
Through his passing,
a Swedish voice that spoke
to the whole world has been silenced.
A voice that spoke of peace,
freedom and justice.
A voice that
will be missed by the entire world.
Which end is which?
Engström.
The guy from Skandia?
Yes, that's him. Stig Engström.
- His story just doesn't make sense.
- A corpulent printmaker?
Does he even have access to a weapon?
Well, you never know.
And the witnesses description
of the suspects clothing
They're a match
with Engström's outfit that evening.
Arne.
All big investigations are like this.
You don't just hunt criminals.
You'll find a bunch of absolute nutjobs
who take their chance for attention.
Believe me. It happens all the time.
Our job is to keep them calm
so they don't take over
the whole bloody investigation.
Understand me?
Huh?
I should've listened to my gut.
That 33-year-old
he was never our man.
That one mistake,
that's one I'll never make again.
[knocking]
[man 4] Leave a note.
What the hell do you want?
- [chuckles]
- I told you to leave a note!
- Arne
- Hey there.
- Do you ever miss the old police building?
- No, I don't know.
At least here, no one hates me.
[scoffs]
[sighs] Fuck.
Arne
It could be Engström.
I can't figure out
what he was doing the night of the murder.
I don't even know if he was there.
He could even be the perpetrator
for all I know.
Pär, how well do you really know Engström?
Well, around here,
everyone knows who he is.
Or was.
He's like a
like a star that's burned out.
Would you do me a favour?
Could you have a sniff around
here at Skandia and see what?
What people think about Engström?
What he's up to.
You know, do actual
honest police work.
[ducks quacking]
[Gunnar] Stig Engström?
Of course I remember him.
I was his boss for a long time.
But you'd probably
rather call him the Skandia Man.
Tell me, Stig, was he the member
of any organization at Skandia?
Well, he was president of the social club.
And he was far too proud of that,
until he managed
to become insufferable there too.
Let me tell you
what kind of a man Stig was.
In the early '80s,
we were looking for
a new head of advertising
Stig thought the position was his.
But that wasn't happening,
he wasn't close to being considered.
So I called him in to explain it all.
I quite liked Stig,
so I tried to let him down gently.
But Stig, he
changed and started behaving like
a petulant boy.
His eyes seemed to darken, and he
began threatening me.
It became clear that there
\was something wrong with him.
He wanted to feel like he'd been chosen.
It was just like when he tried
to be a part of the upper class in Täby.
What happened in Täby?
Well
He just loved to be able brag
about their titles they all had.
Everything had to be so ritzy.
Darling?
Well, hello, hello. Come in.
- Hello.
- Same old same old?
Oh, yes.
[Gunnar]
It was a lieutenant colonel and his wife.
- Hello! Hello!
- Nice to see you again.
[Gunnar] They often played cards
at Stig's old friend's.
- Brother.
- Welcome.
[Gunnar] That man was like the leader.
I even brought my rapier.
[Gunnar] International affairs.
They were wealthy, of course.
But the real heavy weight
was the embassy counsellor.
Thanks for coming.
[Sonja] Margareta,
could you give me a hand?
How's the international work?
- I'm not sure about this.
- What's wrong?
Well, I've never worn this dress before.
I really feel like I should've worn heels.
[Gunnar] This was the true upper class.
Thank you.
[Gunnar] Täby was a stronghold
for the right-wing conservatives,
so this group was, of course,
die-hard Palme haters.
- How are you?
- Same old.
[Gunnar] So, how did Stig manage
to wiggle his way in with these people?
He was lucky.
He happened to be very good at bridge.
And this lot loved bridge.
[Sonja] What about this one? No
That didn't do much good.
Sonja?
Could you?
Yes, Stig. Excuse me.
- There you go.
- [Stig] Thank you.
So what did we have then?
Not more than that.
[clinking glass]
Dear friends!
I want to show you
what I found here.
A little business card.
Do you recognize it?
"Stig Engström.
Head of advertising at Skandia."
[laughs]
- But you never got that job, did you?
- That was a long time ago.
Come on.
Why are you still carrying that card?
No, no, no. I found it
among the decks of cards, but
I'm just wondering, Stig,
why you ordered business cards
before you knew
if you've had the job or not?
No, no, that wasn't the case.
Ah, well, that's curious.
I stand here holding a card that says
"Stig Engström, head of advertising,"
and you're definitely
not the head, are you?
That position turned out to be more
administrative than creative,
so I passed on it.
- You see, it wasn't a good fit for me.
- So you turned down a leadership position?
Well, you need a drink then.
[all laugh]
I have a funny feeling
that you're going to turn me down.
But make up your mind, Stig. Yes or no?
What do you want?
Well? What do you say?
[chuckling]
- Yes Yes, thanks.
- [laughs] Bravo, Stig. Here you go.
I'm just messing with you. Hmm?
Why don't you keep this one?
Is anyone else thirsty?
Anyone?
I will.
[cards shuffling]
[indistinct chatter]
Stig, why are you sitting here?
Petronella
So you're at home after all?
Yes, you know the rules
If the grown-ups have guests
The kids should stay in their rooms.
You sneaking one?
No.
I'm just taking a break.
[men laughing]
A break from Papa?
[radio beeps]
[man 5] I was driving my taxi.
[woman 2] He was lying
in the recovery position when we arrived.
[man 5] When the light turned green,
I drove away and I heard the first shot.
[woman 2] They wanted to know
the identity of everyone at the scene.
Lisbeth Palme said,
"Don't you recognize me?
I'm Lisbeth Palme. My Olof has been shot."
[man 1] Stig?
Aren't you meant to be at Sveavägen?
What?
The police are doing
their reconstruction today.
- They are?
- Yes.
They closed off all of Sveavägen.
There are police and witnesses everywhere.
Didn't they call you?
[tense string music playing]
You are a witness, right?
- Stig!
- Huh?
Are you a witness or aren't you?
Yes, yes, I'll contact them now. Yeah.
Thank you for telling me.
Hello, my name is Stig Engström.
Can I talk to the Rapport's editor,
Folke Rydén.
No, at that point
none of us knew who had been shot.
So there wasn't a lot of interest by then.
That's why I think they were happy
with the witness they already had.
[Folke] The police had no interest in you?
[Stig] No.
- Despite what you had to say?
- No. No.
And despite the fact you told them
you were the one that was
being described and not the murderer?
[Stig] Yeah, there was
a lack of interest throughout.
[Folke]Today and yesterday,
the police conducted
several reconstructions
of the murder of Olof Palme.
Entire blocks were sealed off.
Around ten witnesses were called in
but Stig Engström,
one of the first on the scene,
was not.
[Stig] Yeah.
Say you're trying to do a puzzle
and then you try to remove the pieces
that are not a part of the picture,
you should at least
keep the pieces that belong to the puzzle.
So, maybe when it comes to puzzles,
I suppose, the police aren't great.
[chuckles]
[Folke] Skandia is located on Sveavägen,
50 meters from where Palme was murdered.
Well, that's the first time
I've ever seen you run without a limp.
at 11:20 on the 28th of February,
Stig Engström was leaving
his workplace at Skandia
to go and catch the last train home.
He was in a hurry.
[distant siren wailing]
[keys jingling]
[door unlocking]
"I WAS MISTAKEN FOR THE MURDERER"
So this was the first time
you saw him that evening?
Yeah, at 8:00-ish he leaves for dinner.
[elevator dings]
- [female guard] Off home, Stig?
- I'm just heading out to eat, back soon.
So Engström left for dinner
on the night of the murder? Hmm.
When did he come back?
After nine.
[chuckles] Though he'd
probably had a liquid dinner.
[door opens]
[female guard] Nice meal, Stig?
So the next time
you see him is when he clocks out?
Uh-huh. 11:19 p.m.
What happens then?
Well, it must have been
about 20 minutes later?
Mm.
He comes back and he's really out of it.
I mean, he's definitely very upset.
[female guard]
We talked about it afterwards and
Seeing Palme get shot would be a shock,
but this was more than a shock.
Like someone had tried
to shoot him as well.
[tense music playing]
[beeps]
[tense music continues]
[clicks]
[Pär] Engström went out
to eat around eight in the evening.
He returned to Skandia
after Palme's film had started.
So Engström knew
the Palmes were at the cinema
because he saw them go in, I take it.
Exactly.
He's also lying about a key detail,
the time he left Skandia.
- 23:21.
- That's what he says.
But in reality, he was outside by 23:19.
But he's clever enough
to keep quiet about that.
The less time he spends on Sveavägen,
the less likely it is he shot Palme.
But that means Engström would've seen
the Palme's three times that night.
The first was just before
the film started around nine.
Engström was out for a meal
and happens to see
the Palme's entering the Grand.
The second time is when
the film had finished at eleven o'clock.
So Engström is outside the Grand.
And that's when Mårten Palme sees him.
The third time is when he leaves Skandia
and runs into Palme on the street.
And he shoots him.
But then how the hell can Engström
be stood outside Grand at eleven
when the security swear
that he came back to Skandia at nine?
And then he saw him again
when he left at 23:19?
Obviously, he must have gone out again.
But how?
I mean, that's
the important question, right?
How could Engström
be stood outside of the Grand
at eleven o'clock?
- Could you please fill these forms out?
- No.
- But Please, Stig, it takes no time.
- I said no.
- But this applies to everyone.
- No!
But for God's sake! This is silly.
- It's only for management to get insight
- [yelling] And I said no!
- Oh, please, just calm down.
- [slams]
[telephone ringing]
Yeah, Engström.
Hi, Stig, this is Arne Irvell.
I'm calling from the police station.
- The Palme investigation.
- Yeah? Uh-huh.
We need to talk to you.
Again?
Yes, again, unfortunately.
We need you to come down to the station
so we can tape everything.
- I suggest we meet tomorrow at ten.
- Yeah, yeah, uh-huh.
Yeah. If it's really necessary.
Yes, also I need you
to wear the same clothes
you wore on the night of the murder.
We need to take photographs.
Yeah, okay. Yeah, of course.
Great, see you tomorrow at ten.
Yeah. Thanks.
Don't you have to wear the same clothes
you wore the night Palme was shot?
Okay. See you later.
[bag rustles]
[telephone ringing]
[door lock buzzes]
Hello. I'm Arne Irvell, lead detective.
Yes, Stig Engström.
- I was the one who called you.
- Yeah.
- Welcome.
- Thank you.
- It's great of you to come by.
- Okay.
I'll leave you with
a couple of my colleagues now,
but I wanted to come down and say hello.
So, this way.
[recorder whirring]
[Fors] The night of the 28th of February,
you were working late at Skandia.
Uh, yes, I had things to finish there
as I was going on a skiing trip.
And what else did you do that night then?
- You mean that night?
- Yeah.
Uh, I was just working in my office.
You didn't leave the building
at any other time that night?
No.
[clears throat]
[Fors] You didn't connect the loud bang
and Palme laying on the ground?
[Engström] No, it took a few seconds.
His face was covered in blood.
Um
I was tried to move the man
who turned out to be Olof Palme,
into the recovery position
so the blood wouldn't make him choke.
My first thought was that it was
drugs, or a gang crime.
What did you see around you?
Uh
A young girl to my left, and a young chap
on my right side.
When I looked up towards Luntmakargatan,
I saw a silhouette of a person.
He was standing still,
remarkably still,
for about five or six seconds.
[Fors] This silhouette you saw?
Uh, a young person.
- Can you describe it?
- [Stig] Uh
Wearing something
relatively puffy around the torso.
Mm.
Let's go back to what Lisbeth Palme
was saying about her being shot too.
Yeah, a number of times she told me that.
Uh, she was saying
"They shot me too."
Later on she said,
"They shot me in the back."
Was that what she was saying?
"They" as in "them"?
Yes, "They shot me too.
They shot me in the back."
[Fors] Okay, Stig.
We're going to show you a couple photos.
[melancholy music playing]
[Lennart] He identified the witnesses
Lars Jeppsson and Anders Björkman,
the only witnesses
the perpetrator would've seen.
[Fors] Yes, and he completely
mixed up Anna Hage,
the young woman who gave Palme first aid.
Instead, he picked out her friend,
Karin Johansson.
Probably because Karin Johansson's
face was all over the papers.
Anna Hage, on the other hand,
has stayed out of them.
[sighs]
[knocking]
Leave a note!
[paper rustles]
What the fuck?
Why the hell
didn't you tell me this before?
[female guard] You didn't ask, so Sorry.
[Pär] So the alarm on this door
went off on the night of the murder?
- Yes.
- At what time?
From, uh Oh, hang on, it's here.
[Pär] 10:35 p.m. to11:22 p.m.
[female guard]
Yeah, that's when we locked it.
[Pär] So someone could've used
this door without you noticing anything?
Yeah.
[suspenseful music playing]
What the fuck?
BASED ON THE BOOK THE UNLIKELY MURDERER
BY THOMAS PETTERSON
It has not been proved
that Stig Engström murdered Olof Palme,
but the Swedish police
and Prosecution Authority suspect him.
[knocking on door]
- [man] Stig, may we come in?
- [Stig] Of course.
[woman] We, uh
heard about the incident.
After something like that
How
How are you feeling?
How am I feeling? Well
I feel almost empty.
And guilty.
Guilty?
Yeah, we fought so hard and we lost him.
So that's
That's difficult to deal with.
But But you
You're a hero. Truly.
Yes, that's what people say. But I
I don't see it that way.
I heard that you ran after the murderer.
Yes. But to no avail.
[telephone ringing]
Well, we'll leave you to it.
It was great to see you.
- Thanks, Stig.
- Thanks.
Hello, Engström.
Hello, this is Göran Fors
and I'm calling from the police station.
Uh-huh. Hello.
We need to go through with you
what you remember
from the night of the murder,
to get as complete a picture as possible.
- Is now a good time to talk?
- [Stig] Yes, of course.
Okay, good.
Let's get going from the beginning then.
You were at work
just before the murder, is that correct?
Yeah, it was after 11:00 in the evening.
Uh
I left to get ready
for a skiing trip with my wife.
- And what were you wearing?
- Uh, I had on a dark coat
that came down below my knees.
Um, it was buttoned up.
As you know,
it was a rather cold night.
Were you wearing anything on your head?
[elevator dings]
[Stig] Uh, just a normal cap
with different shades,
uh, no fasteners or earflaps.
So, um, what time did you leave Skandia?
Yeah, I left Skandia at 11:21 p.m.,
but I was in a hurry
to, um, catch the last train home,
so I was almost running.
Uh, then I heard a loud, uh, bang.
At first I thought,
"It's kids with firecrackers."
But then I saw the body on the ground.
Of course,
I didn't know it was Olof Palme,
but now I know it was him that was shot.
And Lisbeth Palme?
What was she doing?
Well, of course,
she was very shocked and scared,
but was also intermittently quite calm
and I was able to talk to her.
- So you spoke to her?
- Yes, I did.
- [Stig] What was he wearing?
- A blue, uh
quilted jacket.
Hmm.
Then what happened?
He He ran off that way.
I then realized I should've
told the policemen
about the blue quilted jacket,
so I ran after them to tell them about it.
But the police, I couldn't see them,
so I then decided
to turn around and go back.
And that's when I heard a witness
uh
give a description
that matched my clothes.
Did you tell the policemen
on the scene about this?
My name is Stig Engström.
I was one of
the first here after the shooting.
- Okay, sir.
- Yeah, there seems to be a mix-up
between myself
and the murderer that you're chasing.
We have all the information we need,
you to leave the crime scene.
[Stig] At that point it seemed
like the best thing to do is leave.
So that's all then.
In which case,
I have nothing more to ask you for now.
- Unless you think there's more to tell.
- No, that was all.
- Okay, thank you for your cooperation.
- Thank you. Thanks. Bye.
Bye.
[telephone line ringing]
Hi, my name is T h omas Pettersson.
I'm a journalist
with an interest in the Palme murder.
I have a theory. Could we
meet sometime so I can run it by you?
- Sven?
- Well, hello.
- Hi, Thomas. Hey.
- Hey. Hi.
Uh, I'm so glad
that you decided to see me.
I think you may be able
to help me with an article I'm writing.
Yes, it's nice that
an ordinary, normal person
is taking an interest
in the Olof Palme murder.
Yeah, well, I don't know about normal.
But I've only been onto this
for two years, you know? Unlike you.
I've been onto it for 20 years,
so I suppose I've become a sort of Nestor
of the private investigators.
Uh, for me it all started
when I read that Palme in his youth
was a collaborator with the CIA.
And, uh
I can't let go of this feeling
that there must be a link there
to the murder.
Mm.
But, um, but what?
Well, after World War II,
"Stay Behind" was formed, you know?
An underground resistance movement
against Russia, and directed by NATO.
They were in every country
in the West, even in Sweden.
And the Social Democrats
helped build Stay Behind,
I mean, with the others.
- That's right.
- Yes.
And one name comes up again and again.
Skandia.
Is that so?
Stay Behind had a base
in Skandia's cellar.
The first head of the Swedish
Stay Behind was CEO of Skandia.
Olof Palme's father and grandfather
were heads of Skandia,
and the murder
was just outside Skandia. How's that?
That can't be a coincidence.
Have you heard the name Stig Engström?
"I WAS MISTAKEN FOR THE MURDERER"
[radio announcer] At the public gallery,
several political events
- [Margareta] Morning.
- Oh, good morning.
Torsten Nilsson and Jarl Hjalmarson.
All who had worked with Palme
over his time as prime minister.
[Ulf Adelsohn] Everyone knows we have
different opinions on finding solutions
to the difficulties we face.
However, the gap between us did
not distract from the largest of these,
the fight for equality and peace.
I think I'll be home by six.
Okay. You've got some
breadcrumb on your face.
Oh.
- Have a good day.
- Okay. Thanks.
fighting the great world powers.
He was a pioneer in reforming
the welfare system, healthcare
TRIBUTE TO PALME
[announcer] Olof Palme's family
were also present at the memorial
where the Prime Minister's empty seat
was filled with flowers.
[Arne] What was
your impression of Engström?
A bit of a know-it-all.
Ha. He's just a little nerd.
Have any of the witnesses
seen Engström run after the police?
No.
Okay, so Engström leaves Skandia,
rushes towards the underground.
Then hears a shot
and sees Palme on the ground.
But that would mean he must
have passed the witness Anders Björkman
who stood behind the Palmes.
How the hell could he have missed him?
[telephone ringing in background]
- So Engström is a liar?
- Of course he's fucking lying.
Well, we can't leave it like this.
We've got to call Engström again.
You ring him this time, Lennart.
- [Stig] Good morning.
- Good morning, Stig.
- You need to ring this number.
- Oh.
The police.
- Good morning, Stig.
- Morning.
[telephone ringing]
- Lennart Granström.
- Hello.
- Uh, Stig Engström here.
- Oh, hi there, Stig.
Thanks for calling us back.
Here's the deal.
We have a couple more questions
that we'd like you to answer.
Uh, just so we don't
misunderstand each other.
- I understand.
- That's great. Uh
So, first, let's see
when you left Skandia
the night of February 28th, did you happen
to see anyone before the shots?
- Do you mean if I saw the murderer?
- Did you?
- No.
- Anyone else?
Any other witnesses nearby?
No, I saw no one.
I could have missed someone,
and there's a simple reason for that.
Roughly about where the pillar is,
I looked at my watch
which has a black face,
which makes it hard to see the time,
so because I was looking down,
I may have missed people who were nearby.
So Engström claims that he was looking
at his watch the whole time?
Apparently he was
so busy checking his watch,
making sure
he wasn't going to miss his train.
So he says he missed any other people
as well as the murder itself.
Well, hang on a sec.
That gives us
a distance of about 50 meters
of him staring at his watch.
Hmm, well, he has
an explanation for that too.
The face of the watch is black. It's dark.
So he has to look
for a long time in order to read it.
- [chuckles] Yeah.
- So it's all because it was too dark.
So Engström's staring
at his watch the entire time
and that's how he misses
both the witness Björkman
and Palme being shot.
[faint gunshots]
[Arne] Hmm.
We should talk to the witness
who mixed him up with the killer,
who said that
that he had a wrist bag.
That would prove
he was at the crime scene.
Yes, but that's not correct
because the wrist bag was first seen
on David Bagares gata.
That's where the witness
Yvonne Nieminen saw it.
Nobody mentioned the wrist bag
at the murder site.
Another thing, Mårten Palme's description
of the man at the Grand
is very interesting.
According to him, there was
a man standing in view of the cinema,
staring at them.
Description, five foot nine,
blue quilted jacket
that falls to the middle of his thighs,
a cap with some kind of clasp
Hmm. That's familiar.
And round and wire-framed glasses.
Time you brought him in.
- [door opens]
- We have a suspect.
- Who?
- In the interview room.
[interrogator]
What did you really think of Palme?
[man 2] I had mixed feelings.
I'd say I didn't like him.
[interrogator] No?
How sure are you?
We'll have to see.
[interrogator]
You were sitting at Café Mon Chèri,
two streets away from the murder scene.
You're sitting there,
chatting to some girls
and you talk about Palme
and say some quite damning things.
This 33-year-old is fucked in the head.
[interrogator] Like, you wish he was dead.
[officer] Hmm. He wished Palme dead
a few hours before the murder.
[interrogator] Is that right?
And he was right in the area.
- They have a suspect.
- Huh?
The Palme murder!
Gunhild went to get The Express.
[breathes heavily]
[tablet hissing loudly]
"The police won't reveal
any details about the suspect,
but can confirm
they've held several interrogations."
"Our sources for The Express told us
that the man held
a deep hatred towards Palme."
"On the night of the murder,
the man was located close to Sveavägen."
"The suspect comes from
the southern part of Sweden
and has a connection to
the fascist organization EAT."
33-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT IN THE PALME MURDER!
Wouldn't it be nice if it was over?
- It could really be him.
- Yeah.
Right.
We've found gunpowder residue
on the 33-year-old's jacket.
We've also got a new witness, a Frenchman.
He says that Gunnarsson
tried to force himself into his car
and escape from Brunkebergsåsen
just a few minutes after the murder.
Hmm.
How credible then
is the testimony from the Frenchman?
Well, he identified Gunnarsson in a photo.
Mm.
Come on, Hasse.
A confessed Palme hater
with gunpowder residue on his jacket,
wants a getaway from the scene
of the murder just after the shooting.
- What else are you looking for?
- I'm not looking for a mad loner.
I'm looking for a conspiracy.
A conspiracy?
[tense music playing]
THE MURDER SUSPEC
IT WAS HERE HE MET PALME
THE HATRED FORCED US TO MOVE TO THE USA
"PALME OUGHT TO BE SHOT"
THE FIGHT FOR PEACE TAKES COURAGE,
BUT PEACE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR
THANK YOU, OLOF - THE KURDS
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE
OLOF PALME, FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS - PERU
[indistinct chatter]
Uh, it turns out
one of our investigating groups
had already shown pictures
of the 33-year-old to the Frenchman,
and at that point he didn't recognize him.
But the next day, another group showed him
new photos
of the 33-year-old without knowing
well, without being aware
of what had happened the day before.
And, of course,
he then identified the 33-year-old.
What the hell are you saying?
The problem is that
we don't know if the Frenchman
recognized the 33-year-old from
the photo he was shown the day before,
or if it really was him. So
Then the Frenchman is a useless witness.
- You know that?
- Mm-hmm.
And what shall I say to the press?
Well?
They're all in there waiting for me
to arrest the 33-year-old.
But now I have to go down
and stand there and say what?
What shall I say?
Tell me what I should say
because I don't fucking know.
[indistinct chatter]
[man 3] He's here.
[camera shutters clicking]
Welcome to yet another press conference.
Todays will be a short one.
Today we have decided to let someone go.
A person who, up until this point,
had been of great interest
in this investigation.
Please don't interrupt this
as a loss of momentum.
Uh, that's not the case.
We're following several
very interesting leads
and we're still receiving
new information every day.
However, this particular person
is no longer a person of interest
in this investigation.
Thank you.
[reporters clamouring]
[clock bell chiming]
[man on TV] The past few weeks have shown
that the ideas that
Olof Palme fought for so passionately,
are felt strongly
in the hearts of the Swedish people.
[sombre music playing]
Through his passing,
a Swedish voice that spoke
to the whole world has been silenced.
A voice that spoke of peace,
freedom and justice.
A voice that
will be missed by the entire world.
Which end is which?
Engström.
The guy from Skandia?
Yes, that's him. Stig Engström.
- His story just doesn't make sense.
- A corpulent printmaker?
Does he even have access to a weapon?
Well, you never know.
And the witnesses description
of the suspects clothing
They're a match
with Engström's outfit that evening.
Arne.
All big investigations are like this.
You don't just hunt criminals.
You'll find a bunch of absolute nutjobs
who take their chance for attention.
Believe me. It happens all the time.
Our job is to keep them calm
so they don't take over
the whole bloody investigation.
Understand me?
Huh?
I should've listened to my gut.
That 33-year-old
he was never our man.
That one mistake,
that's one I'll never make again.
[knocking]
[man 4] Leave a note.
What the hell do you want?
- [chuckles]
- I told you to leave a note!
- Arne
- Hey there.
- Do you ever miss the old police building?
- No, I don't know.
At least here, no one hates me.
[scoffs]
[sighs] Fuck.
Arne
It could be Engström.
I can't figure out
what he was doing the night of the murder.
I don't even know if he was there.
He could even be the perpetrator
for all I know.
Pär, how well do you really know Engström?
Well, around here,
everyone knows who he is.
Or was.
He's like a
like a star that's burned out.
Would you do me a favour?
Could you have a sniff around
here at Skandia and see what?
What people think about Engström?
What he's up to.
You know, do actual
honest police work.
[ducks quacking]
[Gunnar] Stig Engström?
Of course I remember him.
I was his boss for a long time.
But you'd probably
rather call him the Skandia Man.
Tell me, Stig, was he the member
of any organization at Skandia?
Well, he was president of the social club.
And he was far too proud of that,
until he managed
to become insufferable there too.
Let me tell you
what kind of a man Stig was.
In the early '80s,
we were looking for
a new head of advertising
Stig thought the position was his.
But that wasn't happening,
he wasn't close to being considered.
So I called him in to explain it all.
I quite liked Stig,
so I tried to let him down gently.
But Stig, he
changed and started behaving like
a petulant boy.
His eyes seemed to darken, and he
began threatening me.
It became clear that there
\was something wrong with him.
He wanted to feel like he'd been chosen.
It was just like when he tried
to be a part of the upper class in Täby.
What happened in Täby?
Well
He just loved to be able brag
about their titles they all had.
Everything had to be so ritzy.
Darling?
Well, hello, hello. Come in.
- Hello.
- Same old same old?
Oh, yes.
[Gunnar]
It was a lieutenant colonel and his wife.
- Hello! Hello!
- Nice to see you again.
[Gunnar] They often played cards
at Stig's old friend's.
- Brother.
- Welcome.
[Gunnar] That man was like the leader.
I even brought my rapier.
[Gunnar] International affairs.
They were wealthy, of course.
But the real heavy weight
was the embassy counsellor.
Thanks for coming.
[Sonja] Margareta,
could you give me a hand?
How's the international work?
- I'm not sure about this.
- What's wrong?
Well, I've never worn this dress before.
I really feel like I should've worn heels.
[Gunnar] This was the true upper class.
Thank you.
[Gunnar] Täby was a stronghold
for the right-wing conservatives,
so this group was, of course,
die-hard Palme haters.
- How are you?
- Same old.
[Gunnar] So, how did Stig manage
to wiggle his way in with these people?
He was lucky.
He happened to be very good at bridge.
And this lot loved bridge.
[Sonja] What about this one? No
That didn't do much good.
Sonja?
Could you?
Yes, Stig. Excuse me.
- There you go.
- [Stig] Thank you.
So what did we have then?
Not more than that.
[clinking glass]
Dear friends!
I want to show you
what I found here.
A little business card.
Do you recognize it?
"Stig Engström.
Head of advertising at Skandia."
[laughs]
- But you never got that job, did you?
- That was a long time ago.
Come on.
Why are you still carrying that card?
No, no, no. I found it
among the decks of cards, but
I'm just wondering, Stig,
why you ordered business cards
before you knew
if you've had the job or not?
No, no, that wasn't the case.
Ah, well, that's curious.
I stand here holding a card that says
"Stig Engström, head of advertising,"
and you're definitely
not the head, are you?
That position turned out to be more
administrative than creative,
so I passed on it.
- You see, it wasn't a good fit for me.
- So you turned down a leadership position?
Well, you need a drink then.
[all laugh]
I have a funny feeling
that you're going to turn me down.
But make up your mind, Stig. Yes or no?
What do you want?
Well? What do you say?
[chuckling]
- Yes Yes, thanks.
- [laughs] Bravo, Stig. Here you go.
I'm just messing with you. Hmm?
Why don't you keep this one?
Is anyone else thirsty?
Anyone?
I will.
[cards shuffling]
[indistinct chatter]
Stig, why are you sitting here?
Petronella
So you're at home after all?
Yes, you know the rules
If the grown-ups have guests
The kids should stay in their rooms.
You sneaking one?
No.
I'm just taking a break.
[men laughing]
A break from Papa?
[radio beeps]
[man 5] I was driving my taxi.
[woman 2] He was lying
in the recovery position when we arrived.
[man 5] When the light turned green,
I drove away and I heard the first shot.
[woman 2] They wanted to know
the identity of everyone at the scene.
Lisbeth Palme said,
"Don't you recognize me?
I'm Lisbeth Palme. My Olof has been shot."
[man 1] Stig?
Aren't you meant to be at Sveavägen?
What?
The police are doing
their reconstruction today.
- They are?
- Yes.
They closed off all of Sveavägen.
There are police and witnesses everywhere.
Didn't they call you?
[tense string music playing]
You are a witness, right?
- Stig!
- Huh?
Are you a witness or aren't you?
Yes, yes, I'll contact them now. Yeah.
Thank you for telling me.
Hello, my name is Stig Engström.
Can I talk to the Rapport's editor,
Folke Rydén.
No, at that point
none of us knew who had been shot.
So there wasn't a lot of interest by then.
That's why I think they were happy
with the witness they already had.
[Folke] The police had no interest in you?
[Stig] No.
- Despite what you had to say?
- No. No.
And despite the fact you told them
you were the one that was
being described and not the murderer?
[Stig] Yeah, there was
a lack of interest throughout.
[Folke]Today and yesterday,
the police conducted
several reconstructions
of the murder of Olof Palme.
Entire blocks were sealed off.
Around ten witnesses were called in
but Stig Engström,
one of the first on the scene,
was not.
[Stig] Yeah.
Say you're trying to do a puzzle
and then you try to remove the pieces
that are not a part of the picture,
you should at least
keep the pieces that belong to the puzzle.
So, maybe when it comes to puzzles,
I suppose, the police aren't great.
[chuckles]
[Folke] Skandia is located on Sveavägen,
50 meters from where Palme was murdered.
Well, that's the first time
I've ever seen you run without a limp.
at 11:20 on the 28th of February,
Stig Engström was leaving
his workplace at Skandia
to go and catch the last train home.
He was in a hurry.
[distant siren wailing]
[keys jingling]
[door unlocking]
"I WAS MISTAKEN FOR THE MURDERER"
So this was the first time
you saw him that evening?
Yeah, at 8:00-ish he leaves for dinner.
[elevator dings]
- [female guard] Off home, Stig?
- I'm just heading out to eat, back soon.
So Engström left for dinner
on the night of the murder? Hmm.
When did he come back?
After nine.
[chuckles] Though he'd
probably had a liquid dinner.
[door opens]
[female guard] Nice meal, Stig?
So the next time
you see him is when he clocks out?
Uh-huh. 11:19 p.m.
What happens then?
Well, it must have been
about 20 minutes later?
Mm.
He comes back and he's really out of it.
I mean, he's definitely very upset.
[female guard]
We talked about it afterwards and
Seeing Palme get shot would be a shock,
but this was more than a shock.
Like someone had tried
to shoot him as well.
[tense music playing]
[beeps]
[tense music continues]
[clicks]
[Pär] Engström went out
to eat around eight in the evening.
He returned to Skandia
after Palme's film had started.
So Engström knew
the Palmes were at the cinema
because he saw them go in, I take it.
Exactly.
He's also lying about a key detail,
the time he left Skandia.
- 23:21.
- That's what he says.
But in reality, he was outside by 23:19.
But he's clever enough
to keep quiet about that.
The less time he spends on Sveavägen,
the less likely it is he shot Palme.
But that means Engström would've seen
the Palme's three times that night.
The first was just before
the film started around nine.
Engström was out for a meal
and happens to see
the Palme's entering the Grand.
The second time is when
the film had finished at eleven o'clock.
So Engström is outside the Grand.
And that's when Mårten Palme sees him.
The third time is when he leaves Skandia
and runs into Palme on the street.
And he shoots him.
But then how the hell can Engström
be stood outside Grand at eleven
when the security swear
that he came back to Skandia at nine?
And then he saw him again
when he left at 23:19?
Obviously, he must have gone out again.
But how?
I mean, that's
the important question, right?
How could Engström
be stood outside of the Grand
at eleven o'clock?
- Could you please fill these forms out?
- No.
- But Please, Stig, it takes no time.
- I said no.
- But this applies to everyone.
- No!
But for God's sake! This is silly.
- It's only for management to get insight
- [yelling] And I said no!
- Oh, please, just calm down.
- [slams]
[telephone ringing]
Yeah, Engström.
Hi, Stig, this is Arne Irvell.
I'm calling from the police station.
- The Palme investigation.
- Yeah? Uh-huh.
We need to talk to you.
Again?
Yes, again, unfortunately.
We need you to come down to the station
so we can tape everything.
- I suggest we meet tomorrow at ten.
- Yeah, yeah, uh-huh.
Yeah. If it's really necessary.
Yes, also I need you
to wear the same clothes
you wore on the night of the murder.
We need to take photographs.
Yeah, okay. Yeah, of course.
Great, see you tomorrow at ten.
Yeah. Thanks.
Don't you have to wear the same clothes
you wore the night Palme was shot?
Okay. See you later.
[bag rustles]
[telephone ringing]
[door lock buzzes]
Hello. I'm Arne Irvell, lead detective.
Yes, Stig Engström.
- I was the one who called you.
- Yeah.
- Welcome.
- Thank you.
- It's great of you to come by.
- Okay.
I'll leave you with
a couple of my colleagues now,
but I wanted to come down and say hello.
So, this way.
[recorder whirring]
[Fors] The night of the 28th of February,
you were working late at Skandia.
Uh, yes, I had things to finish there
as I was going on a skiing trip.
And what else did you do that night then?
- You mean that night?
- Yeah.
Uh, I was just working in my office.
You didn't leave the building
at any other time that night?
No.
[clears throat]
[Fors] You didn't connect the loud bang
and Palme laying on the ground?
[Engström] No, it took a few seconds.
His face was covered in blood.
Um
I was tried to move the man
who turned out to be Olof Palme,
into the recovery position
so the blood wouldn't make him choke.
My first thought was that it was
drugs, or a gang crime.
What did you see around you?
Uh
A young girl to my left, and a young chap
on my right side.
When I looked up towards Luntmakargatan,
I saw a silhouette of a person.
He was standing still,
remarkably still,
for about five or six seconds.
[Fors] This silhouette you saw?
Uh, a young person.
- Can you describe it?
- [Stig] Uh
Wearing something
relatively puffy around the torso.
Mm.
Let's go back to what Lisbeth Palme
was saying about her being shot too.
Yeah, a number of times she told me that.
Uh, she was saying
"They shot me too."
Later on she said,
"They shot me in the back."
Was that what she was saying?
"They" as in "them"?
Yes, "They shot me too.
They shot me in the back."
[Fors] Okay, Stig.
We're going to show you a couple photos.
[melancholy music playing]
[Lennart] He identified the witnesses
Lars Jeppsson and Anders Björkman,
the only witnesses
the perpetrator would've seen.
[Fors] Yes, and he completely
mixed up Anna Hage,
the young woman who gave Palme first aid.
Instead, he picked out her friend,
Karin Johansson.
Probably because Karin Johansson's
face was all over the papers.
Anna Hage, on the other hand,
has stayed out of them.
[sighs]
[knocking]
Leave a note!
[paper rustles]
What the fuck?
Why the hell
didn't you tell me this before?
[female guard] You didn't ask, so Sorry.
[Pär] So the alarm on this door
went off on the night of the murder?
- Yes.
- At what time?
From, uh Oh, hang on, it's here.
[Pär] 10:35 p.m. to11:22 p.m.
[female guard]
Yeah, that's when we locked it.
[Pär] So someone could've used
this door without you noticing anything?
Yeah.
[suspenseful music playing]
What the fuck?
BASED ON THE BOOK THE UNLIKELY MURDERER
BY THOMAS PETTERSON
It has not been proved
that Stig Engström murdered Olof Palme,
but the Swedish police
and Prosecution Authority suspect him.