A Nearly Normal Family (2023) s01e06 Episode Script
Chapter Six
1
[unsettling music playing]
A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY
[tense music playing]
[Chris yelling indistinctly]
[Amina yelling indistinctly]
[panicked gasping]
[Chris] No!
[screaming]
[breathing heavily]
[gentle sobbing]
[sniffles]
[bangs door] Hello?
[breathing shakily]
Hello?
Hello?
I can't breathe. Hello?
[panicked breathing]
Is there anyone there?
[sobbing]
[door unlocking]
[Nalle] Stella?
What you doing?
You can't stay down there.
Come here. Get up.
Oi, oi, oi. [exhales sharply]
[sighs]
[tap running]
[sighs]
Hey
It's okay to be nervous, you know.
I'd be nervous before a trial.
I just don't know
what to say about it all
Say what you need to, Stella.
[footsteps fading]
Uh, your lawyer has sent you some clothes
to wear today for for the trial.
I'll come and get you
when you're ready, okay.
Hey.
[Nalle chuckles]
[suspenseful music playing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[doorbell rings]
[doorbell ringing]
- Hi.
- Hi. Something wrong?
- Can we talk inside?
- Yeah, sure, come in.
Mikael. Amina Besic will provide
new information in her testimony.
Ulrika, what's going on?
Press Amina about Stella
If Stella is violent and so on,
And then hand it over to the prosecutor.
But but
she's merely a character witness.
- What are you after?
- I can't say any more now.
You must believe me.
You'll find out later.
I promise.
Okay.
Thank you. Thank you.
Uh, we can't carry on like this,
I'm afraid. Sorry.
I must focus upon my family, for
for Stella and for Adam.
Uh um
[sniffles] This is just wrong.
We said from the start that
it mustn't turn into anything serious.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did. It's all right.
If that's what you want
Mm. I can't anymore.
So goodbye, Mikael.
- [door opens]
- [buzzing]
[heavy metal gate sliding open]
[journalist] Today, sees the beginning
of the trial of a young woman
charged for the murder
of the entrepreneur, Christoffer Olsen.
The prosecution has called
several witnesses for this trial,
But the defence
has only summoned two witnesses,
including the defendant's father,
who is her alibi
for the night of the murder.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Ulrika] Um
- I'll go in now, okay?
- Mm.
So I'll see you soon.
Okay.
[Mikael] Try to be as specific as you can.
Be clear and don't say
anything we haven't discussed.
Do you understand?
- Yeah.
- Good.
[door opens, closes]
Good morning. My name is Hannah Lejon,
and I will lead this hearing
and preside over this court.
Now will the prosecutor
present the petition?
It asks that Stella Sandell
Is convicted of murder.
On 7th October,
Stella Sandell intentionally deprived
Christoffer Olsen of his life
by inflicting upon him
several life-threatening stab wounds.
She then left him
bleeding to death and helpless,
dying in agony.
[Hannah] And what is
the defendant's position?
Stella Sandell is innocent.
Now we'll begin
by questioning Stella Sandell.
Can you please tell the court,
In your own words,
about the events
for which you are being charged
and anything else you may know?
Where should I begin?
[Hanna] Uh,
did you know Christoffer Olsen?
[Stella] Yes.
Okay. Can you please tell the court
what occurred on the night of 7th October?
Well, I was at work, like usual.
Amina and I had decided
to meet up afterwards at Inferno.
So, let's see.
Is that Amina Besic,
who is testifying here later?
Mm. But when I got there,
she wasn't there.
[exhales deeply]
Uh,
I I sent her a couple of messages,
but she never answered,
and I went looking
in a couple of other places.
In the end, I went over to Chris's place
to see if she was there.
But but when I got there, the door
was locked and, uh, no one answered.
- So
- So, what did you do then?
I, um
went home.
And then I went to bed.
[Hannah] Thank you.
Prosecution.
Stella, so you claim that you went
to Christopher Olsen's home
on the night of 7th October,
but nobody let you in?
Yeah.
[Jenny] And then you left?
Mm, that's correct.
Which way did you go?
The way that crosses
the, um, parking area.
So, you didn't leave via Tegnérplatsen,
which is behind Christoffer Olsen's block?
[[Stella] Not that I remember, no.
Well, according to our investigations,
an imprint was discovered there.
Of a shoe.
Your shoe, Stella.
How could that be, in your opinion?
I don't know.
There are many people who wear those.
Describe your feelings
towards Christoffer Olsen.
Well, I liked him.
You liked him?
So, were you in love with him?
[tense music playing]
I'm not sure.
Is it not the case
that you were worried and afraid
that your best friend, Amina Besic,
was also in love with him?
And that those feelings were mutual?
No.
[Jenny] Because you contacted Amina
multiple times that evening,
sent a number of text messages.
And you wrote texts like,
"Where are you? Are you with Chris?"
I was anxious
when she didn't turn up at Inferno.
She'd never failed before to, uh, turn up.
And then when she didn't show,
I got worried.
Yeah, you were actually worried
that your best friend had also begun
- a relationship with Olsen
- No.
And that's why you went
to his home that night.
- Not out of concern, but out of anger
- No.
- And suspicion.
- No, it wasn't like that.
- [sighs]
- [Jenny] Thank you.
No further questions.
[sighs]
[woman over PA] Louise Nyman
to Courtroom One to give her testimony.
[Jenny] Louise Nyman.
Where were you
on the evening of 7th October?
I was at Bar Shotluckan with my friends.
[Jenny] Kerstin Boström.
What is your relationship
with the defendant?
Uh I run Grandma's bakery.
Um, I'm Stella's boss there.
How would you describe
Stella's state of mind that evening?
Unstable, really.
She just took my phone from me.
[Kerstin] She said it was pepper spray,
and that she always carried it
when she went out.
Well she was upset.
- Angry.
- Angry as in aggressive?
Yeah. I'd say she was aggressive.
[Jenny] Can you tell the court
where you work?
I work in forensics
for the police in Lund.
We found a shoe print
next to a puddle of water,
one meter away
from Christoffer Olsen's body.
[Jenny] You lived next door
to Christoffer Olsen,
and you've told us
that you saw Stella Sandell.
[man] Uh, yes.
Uh, I saw her on the street
below my window.
And then, um,
I heard a loud shriek
from the, uh, car park.
[Jenny] How can you be certain
that this particular print
came from the same shoe
that Stella Sandell wore?
We know because we examined her shoes,
and found microfibres from one of them
at the crime scene.
So it is beyond doubt that
that is the shoe
that left the imprint there.
[Jenny] Around what time did this happen?
It was close to midnight.
And those screams, I'll never forget them.
They chilled me to the marrow.
That must have been when she stabbed him.
[Jenny] Thank you. No further questions.
[woman over PA] Adam Sandell
to Courtroom One to give his testimony.
[door opens]
[Hannah] Mr Sandell. Please take a seat.
[door closes]
[Hannah] Adam Sandell,
you will now be asked
about the events
that took place on 7th October this year.
As a parent of the defendant,
you are not required
to take the oath as a witness,
so you are not testifying
under criminal liability.
But, uh, I must remind you
that it is ill-advised
to say anything that is untrue
here in court.
- Is that understood?
- Yeah.
Your witness, Mr Blomberg.
Thank you.
Adam, I know that this is difficult,
so I'll try to keep it short.
Would you like to start
by telling us what you do for a living?
I'm a priest
[clears throat]
[sighs]
a priest in the Church of Sweden,
and have been for eight years.
[Mikael] Can you tell us a bit
about your relationship with Stella?
Stella
is my whole world.
[Mikael] How, um how are things at home?
[Adam] It's been good at times.
[exhales sharply] But not always.
Nothing's as hard as being a parent.
[Mikael] Could you tell us
what you remember
from the evening of 7th October?
I was home.
Uh, Stella was going
she was going out with her friend Amina.
My wife, um
she was working late.
I couldn't sleep. I'm always
a bit worried when Stella goes out.
But I must've nodded off
'cause I woke when she came home.
Um, what time was that?
11:55.
[Mikael] 11:55 p.m.?
- You're sure of that?
- [Adam] I'm certain.
I checked the time
when I heard her come home.
[Mikael] Thank you.
[Hannah] Prosecution.
[Jenny] You are certain
Stella came home at 11:55 p.m.
because you checked the time
the moment she got back.
Is that correct?
I see that you're nodding,
so I take that as a yes.
[clears throat] Yeah, yeah. That's right.
[Jenny] During the investigation,
we managed to recover
several text messages from your phone
that were sent that evening.
SMS messages that you deleted.
And from the transcripts,
we see one was sent at 12:02 a.m.
"When will you be home?"
And another one at 12:23 a.m.
"Can you please answer?"
It seems very strange to me
that you would have sent her text messages
after Stella came home.
Yeah, well I don't know
if I think it's all that strange.
[Jenny] No? In what sense?
Uh, it's happened to me
and and others, too, so I've heard
that every now and then,
when I've tried to send a text,
the message hasn't gone,
Well not straight away.
There are delays sometimes.
So, you're saying
that these text messages
that you sent at 12:02 and 12:23
were sent earlier that evening
but just not delivered till later?
That's right.
You know that every now and again
the network can fail, don't you?
So, network failure, then?
Mm.
Well, we've heard the defence portray you
as an upstanding member of the community,
a committed priest,
and a devoted father.
But the fact is
that you've consistently
obstructed this investigation,
isn't that so?
You have tried to harass me.
You have tried to shift our suspicion
onto someone other than your daughter.
[Adam] I have only tried
to make sure that
we're doing all we can
to get to the truth.
So, "all that you can,"
does that include
getting rid of incriminating evidence?
I don't know what you mean by that.
Clothes that Stella wore that evening,
according to witnesses,
blue jeans, grey hoodie.
We haven't been able to find them.
Nor have we been able to find
Stella's phone. How do you explain that?
Well, I know nothing about that. I can't.
[Jenny] Ahem.
Thank you. No further questions.
Thank you, Adam.
The court will now adjourn for today.
We will reconvene tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
[indistinct whispering]
It was my birthday yesterday.
Oh, I'm sorry, Adam.
I completely forgot.
And me.
I remembered just now.
Another year has passed.
We might know the verdict
this time tomorrow.
Then it's over.
[Adam] Mm.
[solemn suspenseful music playing]
[rain pattering]
[door opens]
[loud rock music playing in distance]
Chris!
Chris, hello!
- [breathing heavily]
- [suspenseful music playing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[loud rock music playing in distance]
[rock music playing loudly]
[music fades]
[gentle buzz of conversations]
So [clears throat]
Good morning.
This brings us to
the final witness of this trial.
[woman] Amina Besic to Courtroom One
to give her testimony.
[Hannah] Hello, Amina.
Uh, you can sit there. Thank you.
You will now take the oath of testimony
by repeating after me
"I, Amina Besic"
[Amina] I, Amina Besic
[Hannah] "do solemnly swear
upon my conscience"
do solemnly swear upon my conscience
[Hannah] "to tell the whole truth.
I will not withhold"
[Amina]to tell the whole truth.
I will not withhold
[Hannah] "embellish, nor amend anything."
Embellish, nor amend anything.
- I hand over to the defence.
- [Mikael] Thank you.
Amina Besic, can you tell us
about your relationship with Stella?
Uh Stella, um, she is my best friend.
We were in the same class since year nine.
Also, we played handball
together at school.
What's your relationship like now?
She's still my best friend.
[Mikael] How would you describe Stella
as a person?
[Amina] There's no one like her.
She is
strong.
Stubborn.
And she will stand up for her beliefs.
And have you ever known Stella
to be violent?
[Amina] No.
No.
Do you think
she could have murdered Christoffer Olsen?
Absolutely not.
[Mikael] No.
Thank you.
[Hannah] Prosecution.
Amina, uh, how well
did you know Christoffer Olsen?
Not very well at all.
Were you attracted to him?
No, not at all.
[Jenny] Mm. Eh, we've gone through your
And, uh, and that night
I told him I wasn't.
[suspenseful music playing]
Uh, that night? Um
Do you mean the night of the murder?
[Amina] Yes.
Uh, so you
so you saw Christoffer Olsen
on the same night he was murdered?
Yeah.
It's just
in your police interview,
you stated that you went straight home
from the bar that night.
It is not true.
[indistinct background chatter]
GOT HERE EARLY
WAITING BY THE BAR
[dance music playing]
Hi.
- What?
- You okay?
Um, yeah.
- Waiting for Stella, huh?
- Mm.
She said you were going out,
but didn't know it was here.
Coincidence.
Well, actually,
Lund's not that big really.
[clears throat] Sadly
Do you not like me?
Well, it's not surprising.
You and Stella are best friends,
and I've come between you.
[clears throat]
You haven't come between us.
You know that the first night
we met at, uh Mejeriet?
You were the one I was interested in.
So I do worry
that I picked the wrong friend.
Trust me.
Don't bother worrying about it.
[typing on phone keypad]
[message sent whoosh]
Look, uh, sorry.
That was, uh wrong,
what I said just now.
I was nervous,
and I get the feeling that you dislike me.
So, uh
uh so forgive me?
It was a stupid thing to say.
I'm sorry.
Um I brought a peace pipe.
Cheers.
[glass clinking echoes eerily]
[music, indistinct chatter fade]
[ominous music playing]
[heavy rain pattering]
[unsettling music playing]
I'm sorry
You okay? Hey, Amina!
[heavy rain pattering]
[unsettling music continues]
[car door opens]
Amina.
Are you okay?
[Amina] What?
- Hey, are you okay? Come here.
- No.
Come. I'll drive you home.
- No, I'm all right.
- No. Don't be silly.
Here.
[ominous music playing]
No
[typing]
[Amina breathes shakily]
Don't
WHERE ARE YOU?
ARE YOU WITH CHRIS?
(GOT A HEADACHE
I WENT HOME, BUT I'M OKAY:)
[message sent whoosh]
[Amina whispers] Stella
S so, you got in the car
with Christoffer Olsen,
and went to his place?
Yeah.
[Jenny] Okay, and what happened there?
[sighs]
He raped me.
[shocked gasping]
[Jenny] I'm sorry?
Christoffer Olsen drugged and raped me.
Why haven't you said this till now?
[Hannah] Would you like
to take a break, Amina?
No.
Didn't think anyone would believe me
if I told the truth.
I know that Chris's ex, Linda Levander,
tried to report him for the same thing.
No one believed her.
I feel like
I must speak out.
Stella was raped years ago,
at a handball camp.
Her parents said
there was no point reporting it.
Because she would be
questioned and blamed.
And the man who did it
would likely be found not guilty.
[clears throat]
So, you you're saying
that Christoffer Olsen
raped you in his flat
on the night of October 7th?
Yeah.
And what did you do then?
[tense music playing]
[inhales shakily, sighs]
When it was done, um,
well, I ran out of his flat
and went home.
As I fled from his living room, I
Knocked over a vase
that was on a chest of drawers
in the hallway.
It shattered.
The next morning, I heard he
was dead.
Amina, you've stated
that Stella is your best friend, right?
- Mm.
- [Jenny] So [chuckles]
How are we to know
that this not a fabrication
so that you can shift focus from Stella
to the alleged actions of a dead man?
A man who has
no means of defending himself.
How are we supposed to believe
that you were even
in Christoffer Olsen's flat that evening
when you've continuously said
that you went home?
I was there.
Christoffer Olsen drugged and raped me.
Thank you. That will be all.
[Hannah] Thank you, Amina.
Now we will now briefly adjourn
before hearing your closing statements.
[Dino sighs]
If there are two potential suspects
at the scene of a murder,
the prosecutor must be able to prove
which one of them committed the murder
or that the two suspects acted together.
If you inform the police now,
then they will do all that they can
to get you both convicted.
So, if this is going to work,
you have to wait for the trial.
It has to come as a surprise
to the prosecution.
You understand?
I introduce the possibility
of an alternative culprit.
Exactly.
[door opens]
So, you knew?
All along?
[Ulrika] Yeah.
So, why didn't you tell me?
So you wouldn't have to lie, Adam.
[tense music playing]
So, you know
what happened that night, then?
You know how he died?
Yeah.
Do you even want to know?
No.
[woman over PA] Proceedings now resume
in Courtroom One.
Okay.
[suspenseful music playing]
[voices murmuring indistinctly]
[Hannah] Well, that brings us
to the closing statements.
So the prosecution may now proceed.
LUND DISTRICT COUR
My understanding is
that the indictment is sound
and that Stella Sandell
should be convicted
for the murder of Christoffer Olsen,
and sentenced
according to the severity of the crime.
Based on the evidence presented,
it has been proven
that all the stab wounds inflicted
on Christoffer Olsen were fatal.
And the presence
of Stella Sandell's shoe imprint
proves that she was present
at the crime scene
around the time of the murder.
Christoffer Olsen had traces
of pepper spray in his eyes.
When Stella was apprehended,
she had a can of pepper spray.
Stella Sandell had motive.
She was jealous that Christoffer Olsen
had begun a relationship
with her best friend, Amina Besic.
The testimony provided to the court
by Amina Besic
can be seen as
an ex post facto fabrication,
and should therefore be disregarded.
In conclusion, the evidence of the defence
does not negate in any way
evidence that I have submitted.
Stella Sandell committed murder
and should be sentenced
to 18 years in prison.
Thank you.
[Hannah] Proceed, Mr Blomberg.
The only thing the prosecution
has proved in this hearing
is that my client was
in the vicinity of Mr Olsen's home
on the night in question.
On the other hand,
this process has determined
that Amina Besic was also
at the crime scene that night.
So, both Amina Besic and Stella Sandell
could have been close to the scene
when Christoffer Olsen died.
The prosecution has
neither a murder weapon
or physical evidence
proving that the murder happened
in the manner they have claimed.
Thus, it is by no means
proven beyond reasonable doubt
that my client is responsible
for the death of Christopher Olsen.
The only option is to dismiss the case
and acquit Stella Sandell.
[Hannah] Thank you.
Then this, uh, hearing is now concluded.
We now will remain in this room
while we consider all of the evidence.
I kindly ask you all to wait outside
while we deliberate.
[tense music playing]
[handcuffs closing]
[tense music playing]
[rock music playing loudly]
[Chris] Lie still, I said.
Stop it!
Stay there.
Stay there.
Lie back.
Not so up yourself now, are you?
Huh? Not so up yourself now, are you?
[suspenseful music playing]
[Chris] Look at me.
Look at me!
[Chris yelps, grunts]
[Amina breathing heavily]
[Chris] Fuck!
Come here!
[Amina gasps]
ANALYSIS: ALL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS
THAT THE 19-YEAR-OLD IS GUILTY
[woman over PA] Verdict to be delivered
in Courtroom One.
[buzz of conversations]
[door opens]
[voices murmuring indistinctly]
[clears throat] This court has deliberated
and will now deliver its verdict.
[suspenseful music playing]
The evidence of the defence,
supported by the testimony
of Amina Besic,
demonstrates that it is not
proven beyond reasonable doubt
that Stella Sandell acted
in the manner alleged by the prosecution.
We the court rule
that in the charge against Stella Sandell
that she is not guilty of murder.
- Oh, thank God.
- [relieved sigh]
[Hannah] She is to be released
immediately.
[Ulrika] Oh!
- [Ulrika gasps]
- You're free. It's over.
[emotional instrumental music playing]
[sobbing]
[both sobbing]
[Stella whimpers]
Oh
[both sobbing]
[solemn music playing]
[music fades]
[choir singing ethereal hymn]
[choir continue singing ethereal hymn]
Adam?
- I thought it was you.
- Hey!
- Hi. Hey!
- Hey.
- [chuckles]
- Lovely.
[sighs]
So, how have you been?
[Adam] Yeah. I'm good.
I came to say hi, and to hand in my laptop
and tie up some loose ends
and bits before I go.
It seems it's even harder
to take the collar off
than it is to put it on.
Well, it is rather unusual
for someone to leave the church.
- I'm not leaving the church.
- Mm.
But I can no longer be a priest, Siri.
At least, not right now.
Oh, you'll be such a great loss, Adam.
Thank you.
- Stay for a cup of coffee?
- Yeah, love to.
- Mm?
- If you can make me a fresh one.
- Oh, of course. [chuckles]
- Can't do instant.
[group] God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
[indistinct chattering]
- Bye, then.
- See you.
- Take care.
- See you.
[man] Yeah, I'll see you next time.
- [Adam] Hey.
- Hi.
- How did it go?
- Good.
- [indistinct chattering]
- [bustle of traffic]
[horn honking]
[matchbox rattling]
[solemn music playing]
[Chris] No, you don't!
Come here!
[Chris] Come here!
[Chris grunts]
[tense music playing]
[Amina] Stella!
Stella, come on!
Stella!
[Chris groans]
You fucking whore! [grunts]
[Chris grunts]
[Chris screaming]
[Chris gasping]
[solemn music playing]
[rhythmic tapping]
[unsettling music playing]
[music fades out]
[unsettling music playing]
A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY
[tense music playing]
[Chris yelling indistinctly]
[Amina yelling indistinctly]
[panicked gasping]
[Chris] No!
[screaming]
[breathing heavily]
[gentle sobbing]
[sniffles]
[bangs door] Hello?
[breathing shakily]
Hello?
Hello?
I can't breathe. Hello?
[panicked breathing]
Is there anyone there?
[sobbing]
[door unlocking]
[Nalle] Stella?
What you doing?
You can't stay down there.
Come here. Get up.
Oi, oi, oi. [exhales sharply]
[sighs]
[tap running]
[sighs]
Hey
It's okay to be nervous, you know.
I'd be nervous before a trial.
I just don't know
what to say about it all
Say what you need to, Stella.
[footsteps fading]
Uh, your lawyer has sent you some clothes
to wear today for for the trial.
I'll come and get you
when you're ready, okay.
Hey.
[Nalle chuckles]
[suspenseful music playing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[doorbell rings]
[doorbell ringing]
- Hi.
- Hi. Something wrong?
- Can we talk inside?
- Yeah, sure, come in.
Mikael. Amina Besic will provide
new information in her testimony.
Ulrika, what's going on?
Press Amina about Stella
If Stella is violent and so on,
And then hand it over to the prosecutor.
But but
she's merely a character witness.
- What are you after?
- I can't say any more now.
You must believe me.
You'll find out later.
I promise.
Okay.
Thank you. Thank you.
Uh, we can't carry on like this,
I'm afraid. Sorry.
I must focus upon my family, for
for Stella and for Adam.
Uh um
[sniffles] This is just wrong.
We said from the start that
it mustn't turn into anything serious.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did. It's all right.
If that's what you want
Mm. I can't anymore.
So goodbye, Mikael.
- [door opens]
- [buzzing]
[heavy metal gate sliding open]
[journalist] Today, sees the beginning
of the trial of a young woman
charged for the murder
of the entrepreneur, Christoffer Olsen.
The prosecution has called
several witnesses for this trial,
But the defence
has only summoned two witnesses,
including the defendant's father,
who is her alibi
for the night of the murder.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Ulrika] Um
- I'll go in now, okay?
- Mm.
So I'll see you soon.
Okay.
[Mikael] Try to be as specific as you can.
Be clear and don't say
anything we haven't discussed.
Do you understand?
- Yeah.
- Good.
[door opens, closes]
Good morning. My name is Hannah Lejon,
and I will lead this hearing
and preside over this court.
Now will the prosecutor
present the petition?
It asks that Stella Sandell
Is convicted of murder.
On 7th October,
Stella Sandell intentionally deprived
Christoffer Olsen of his life
by inflicting upon him
several life-threatening stab wounds.
She then left him
bleeding to death and helpless,
dying in agony.
[Hannah] And what is
the defendant's position?
Stella Sandell is innocent.
Now we'll begin
by questioning Stella Sandell.
Can you please tell the court,
In your own words,
about the events
for which you are being charged
and anything else you may know?
Where should I begin?
[Hanna] Uh,
did you know Christoffer Olsen?
[Stella] Yes.
Okay. Can you please tell the court
what occurred on the night of 7th October?
Well, I was at work, like usual.
Amina and I had decided
to meet up afterwards at Inferno.
So, let's see.
Is that Amina Besic,
who is testifying here later?
Mm. But when I got there,
she wasn't there.
[exhales deeply]
Uh,
I I sent her a couple of messages,
but she never answered,
and I went looking
in a couple of other places.
In the end, I went over to Chris's place
to see if she was there.
But but when I got there, the door
was locked and, uh, no one answered.
- So
- So, what did you do then?
I, um
went home.
And then I went to bed.
[Hannah] Thank you.
Prosecution.
Stella, so you claim that you went
to Christopher Olsen's home
on the night of 7th October,
but nobody let you in?
Yeah.
[Jenny] And then you left?
Mm, that's correct.
Which way did you go?
The way that crosses
the, um, parking area.
So, you didn't leave via Tegnérplatsen,
which is behind Christoffer Olsen's block?
[[Stella] Not that I remember, no.
Well, according to our investigations,
an imprint was discovered there.
Of a shoe.
Your shoe, Stella.
How could that be, in your opinion?
I don't know.
There are many people who wear those.
Describe your feelings
towards Christoffer Olsen.
Well, I liked him.
You liked him?
So, were you in love with him?
[tense music playing]
I'm not sure.
Is it not the case
that you were worried and afraid
that your best friend, Amina Besic,
was also in love with him?
And that those feelings were mutual?
No.
[Jenny] Because you contacted Amina
multiple times that evening,
sent a number of text messages.
And you wrote texts like,
"Where are you? Are you with Chris?"
I was anxious
when she didn't turn up at Inferno.
She'd never failed before to, uh, turn up.
And then when she didn't show,
I got worried.
Yeah, you were actually worried
that your best friend had also begun
- a relationship with Olsen
- No.
And that's why you went
to his home that night.
- Not out of concern, but out of anger
- No.
- And suspicion.
- No, it wasn't like that.
- [sighs]
- [Jenny] Thank you.
No further questions.
[sighs]
[woman over PA] Louise Nyman
to Courtroom One to give her testimony.
[Jenny] Louise Nyman.
Where were you
on the evening of 7th October?
I was at Bar Shotluckan with my friends.
[Jenny] Kerstin Boström.
What is your relationship
with the defendant?
Uh I run Grandma's bakery.
Um, I'm Stella's boss there.
How would you describe
Stella's state of mind that evening?
Unstable, really.
She just took my phone from me.
[Kerstin] She said it was pepper spray,
and that she always carried it
when she went out.
Well she was upset.
- Angry.
- Angry as in aggressive?
Yeah. I'd say she was aggressive.
[Jenny] Can you tell the court
where you work?
I work in forensics
for the police in Lund.
We found a shoe print
next to a puddle of water,
one meter away
from Christoffer Olsen's body.
[Jenny] You lived next door
to Christoffer Olsen,
and you've told us
that you saw Stella Sandell.
[man] Uh, yes.
Uh, I saw her on the street
below my window.
And then, um,
I heard a loud shriek
from the, uh, car park.
[Jenny] How can you be certain
that this particular print
came from the same shoe
that Stella Sandell wore?
We know because we examined her shoes,
and found microfibres from one of them
at the crime scene.
So it is beyond doubt that
that is the shoe
that left the imprint there.
[Jenny] Around what time did this happen?
It was close to midnight.
And those screams, I'll never forget them.
They chilled me to the marrow.
That must have been when she stabbed him.
[Jenny] Thank you. No further questions.
[woman over PA] Adam Sandell
to Courtroom One to give his testimony.
[door opens]
[Hannah] Mr Sandell. Please take a seat.
[door closes]
[Hannah] Adam Sandell,
you will now be asked
about the events
that took place on 7th October this year.
As a parent of the defendant,
you are not required
to take the oath as a witness,
so you are not testifying
under criminal liability.
But, uh, I must remind you
that it is ill-advised
to say anything that is untrue
here in court.
- Is that understood?
- Yeah.
Your witness, Mr Blomberg.
Thank you.
Adam, I know that this is difficult,
so I'll try to keep it short.
Would you like to start
by telling us what you do for a living?
I'm a priest
[clears throat]
[sighs]
a priest in the Church of Sweden,
and have been for eight years.
[Mikael] Can you tell us a bit
about your relationship with Stella?
Stella
is my whole world.
[Mikael] How, um how are things at home?
[Adam] It's been good at times.
[exhales sharply] But not always.
Nothing's as hard as being a parent.
[Mikael] Could you tell us
what you remember
from the evening of 7th October?
I was home.
Uh, Stella was going
she was going out with her friend Amina.
My wife, um
she was working late.
I couldn't sleep. I'm always
a bit worried when Stella goes out.
But I must've nodded off
'cause I woke when she came home.
Um, what time was that?
11:55.
[Mikael] 11:55 p.m.?
- You're sure of that?
- [Adam] I'm certain.
I checked the time
when I heard her come home.
[Mikael] Thank you.
[Hannah] Prosecution.
[Jenny] You are certain
Stella came home at 11:55 p.m.
because you checked the time
the moment she got back.
Is that correct?
I see that you're nodding,
so I take that as a yes.
[clears throat] Yeah, yeah. That's right.
[Jenny] During the investigation,
we managed to recover
several text messages from your phone
that were sent that evening.
SMS messages that you deleted.
And from the transcripts,
we see one was sent at 12:02 a.m.
"When will you be home?"
And another one at 12:23 a.m.
"Can you please answer?"
It seems very strange to me
that you would have sent her text messages
after Stella came home.
Yeah, well I don't know
if I think it's all that strange.
[Jenny] No? In what sense?
Uh, it's happened to me
and and others, too, so I've heard
that every now and then,
when I've tried to send a text,
the message hasn't gone,
Well not straight away.
There are delays sometimes.
So, you're saying
that these text messages
that you sent at 12:02 and 12:23
were sent earlier that evening
but just not delivered till later?
That's right.
You know that every now and again
the network can fail, don't you?
So, network failure, then?
Mm.
Well, we've heard the defence portray you
as an upstanding member of the community,
a committed priest,
and a devoted father.
But the fact is
that you've consistently
obstructed this investigation,
isn't that so?
You have tried to harass me.
You have tried to shift our suspicion
onto someone other than your daughter.
[Adam] I have only tried
to make sure that
we're doing all we can
to get to the truth.
So, "all that you can,"
does that include
getting rid of incriminating evidence?
I don't know what you mean by that.
Clothes that Stella wore that evening,
according to witnesses,
blue jeans, grey hoodie.
We haven't been able to find them.
Nor have we been able to find
Stella's phone. How do you explain that?
Well, I know nothing about that. I can't.
[Jenny] Ahem.
Thank you. No further questions.
Thank you, Adam.
The court will now adjourn for today.
We will reconvene tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
[indistinct whispering]
It was my birthday yesterday.
Oh, I'm sorry, Adam.
I completely forgot.
And me.
I remembered just now.
Another year has passed.
We might know the verdict
this time tomorrow.
Then it's over.
[Adam] Mm.
[solemn suspenseful music playing]
[rain pattering]
[door opens]
[loud rock music playing in distance]
Chris!
Chris, hello!
- [breathing heavily]
- [suspenseful music playing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[loud rock music playing in distance]
[rock music playing loudly]
[music fades]
[gentle buzz of conversations]
So [clears throat]
Good morning.
This brings us to
the final witness of this trial.
[woman] Amina Besic to Courtroom One
to give her testimony.
[Hannah] Hello, Amina.
Uh, you can sit there. Thank you.
You will now take the oath of testimony
by repeating after me
"I, Amina Besic"
[Amina] I, Amina Besic
[Hannah] "do solemnly swear
upon my conscience"
do solemnly swear upon my conscience
[Hannah] "to tell the whole truth.
I will not withhold"
[Amina]to tell the whole truth.
I will not withhold
[Hannah] "embellish, nor amend anything."
Embellish, nor amend anything.
- I hand over to the defence.
- [Mikael] Thank you.
Amina Besic, can you tell us
about your relationship with Stella?
Uh Stella, um, she is my best friend.
We were in the same class since year nine.
Also, we played handball
together at school.
What's your relationship like now?
She's still my best friend.
[Mikael] How would you describe Stella
as a person?
[Amina] There's no one like her.
She is
strong.
Stubborn.
And she will stand up for her beliefs.
And have you ever known Stella
to be violent?
[Amina] No.
No.
Do you think
she could have murdered Christoffer Olsen?
Absolutely not.
[Mikael] No.
Thank you.
[Hannah] Prosecution.
Amina, uh, how well
did you know Christoffer Olsen?
Not very well at all.
Were you attracted to him?
No, not at all.
[Jenny] Mm. Eh, we've gone through your
And, uh, and that night
I told him I wasn't.
[suspenseful music playing]
Uh, that night? Um
Do you mean the night of the murder?
[Amina] Yes.
Uh, so you
so you saw Christoffer Olsen
on the same night he was murdered?
Yeah.
It's just
in your police interview,
you stated that you went straight home
from the bar that night.
It is not true.
[indistinct background chatter]
GOT HERE EARLY
WAITING BY THE BAR
[dance music playing]
Hi.
- What?
- You okay?
Um, yeah.
- Waiting for Stella, huh?
- Mm.
She said you were going out,
but didn't know it was here.
Coincidence.
Well, actually,
Lund's not that big really.
[clears throat] Sadly
Do you not like me?
Well, it's not surprising.
You and Stella are best friends,
and I've come between you.
[clears throat]
You haven't come between us.
You know that the first night
we met at, uh Mejeriet?
You were the one I was interested in.
So I do worry
that I picked the wrong friend.
Trust me.
Don't bother worrying about it.
[typing on phone keypad]
[message sent whoosh]
Look, uh, sorry.
That was, uh wrong,
what I said just now.
I was nervous,
and I get the feeling that you dislike me.
So, uh
uh so forgive me?
It was a stupid thing to say.
I'm sorry.
Um I brought a peace pipe.
Cheers.
[glass clinking echoes eerily]
[music, indistinct chatter fade]
[ominous music playing]
[heavy rain pattering]
[unsettling music playing]
I'm sorry
You okay? Hey, Amina!
[heavy rain pattering]
[unsettling music continues]
[car door opens]
Amina.
Are you okay?
[Amina] What?
- Hey, are you okay? Come here.
- No.
Come. I'll drive you home.
- No, I'm all right.
- No. Don't be silly.
Here.
[ominous music playing]
No
[typing]
[Amina breathes shakily]
Don't
WHERE ARE YOU?
ARE YOU WITH CHRIS?
(GOT A HEADACHE
I WENT HOME, BUT I'M OKAY:)
[message sent whoosh]
[Amina whispers] Stella
S so, you got in the car
with Christoffer Olsen,
and went to his place?
Yeah.
[Jenny] Okay, and what happened there?
[sighs]
He raped me.
[shocked gasping]
[Jenny] I'm sorry?
Christoffer Olsen drugged and raped me.
Why haven't you said this till now?
[Hannah] Would you like
to take a break, Amina?
No.
Didn't think anyone would believe me
if I told the truth.
I know that Chris's ex, Linda Levander,
tried to report him for the same thing.
No one believed her.
I feel like
I must speak out.
Stella was raped years ago,
at a handball camp.
Her parents said
there was no point reporting it.
Because she would be
questioned and blamed.
And the man who did it
would likely be found not guilty.
[clears throat]
So, you you're saying
that Christoffer Olsen
raped you in his flat
on the night of October 7th?
Yeah.
And what did you do then?
[tense music playing]
[inhales shakily, sighs]
When it was done, um,
well, I ran out of his flat
and went home.
As I fled from his living room, I
Knocked over a vase
that was on a chest of drawers
in the hallway.
It shattered.
The next morning, I heard he
was dead.
Amina, you've stated
that Stella is your best friend, right?
- Mm.
- [Jenny] So [chuckles]
How are we to know
that this not a fabrication
so that you can shift focus from Stella
to the alleged actions of a dead man?
A man who has
no means of defending himself.
How are we supposed to believe
that you were even
in Christoffer Olsen's flat that evening
when you've continuously said
that you went home?
I was there.
Christoffer Olsen drugged and raped me.
Thank you. That will be all.
[Hannah] Thank you, Amina.
Now we will now briefly adjourn
before hearing your closing statements.
[Dino sighs]
If there are two potential suspects
at the scene of a murder,
the prosecutor must be able to prove
which one of them committed the murder
or that the two suspects acted together.
If you inform the police now,
then they will do all that they can
to get you both convicted.
So, if this is going to work,
you have to wait for the trial.
It has to come as a surprise
to the prosecution.
You understand?
I introduce the possibility
of an alternative culprit.
Exactly.
[door opens]
So, you knew?
All along?
[Ulrika] Yeah.
So, why didn't you tell me?
So you wouldn't have to lie, Adam.
[tense music playing]
So, you know
what happened that night, then?
You know how he died?
Yeah.
Do you even want to know?
No.
[woman over PA] Proceedings now resume
in Courtroom One.
Okay.
[suspenseful music playing]
[voices murmuring indistinctly]
[Hannah] Well, that brings us
to the closing statements.
So the prosecution may now proceed.
LUND DISTRICT COUR
My understanding is
that the indictment is sound
and that Stella Sandell
should be convicted
for the murder of Christoffer Olsen,
and sentenced
according to the severity of the crime.
Based on the evidence presented,
it has been proven
that all the stab wounds inflicted
on Christoffer Olsen were fatal.
And the presence
of Stella Sandell's shoe imprint
proves that she was present
at the crime scene
around the time of the murder.
Christoffer Olsen had traces
of pepper spray in his eyes.
When Stella was apprehended,
she had a can of pepper spray.
Stella Sandell had motive.
She was jealous that Christoffer Olsen
had begun a relationship
with her best friend, Amina Besic.
The testimony provided to the court
by Amina Besic
can be seen as
an ex post facto fabrication,
and should therefore be disregarded.
In conclusion, the evidence of the defence
does not negate in any way
evidence that I have submitted.
Stella Sandell committed murder
and should be sentenced
to 18 years in prison.
Thank you.
[Hannah] Proceed, Mr Blomberg.
The only thing the prosecution
has proved in this hearing
is that my client was
in the vicinity of Mr Olsen's home
on the night in question.
On the other hand,
this process has determined
that Amina Besic was also
at the crime scene that night.
So, both Amina Besic and Stella Sandell
could have been close to the scene
when Christoffer Olsen died.
The prosecution has
neither a murder weapon
or physical evidence
proving that the murder happened
in the manner they have claimed.
Thus, it is by no means
proven beyond reasonable doubt
that my client is responsible
for the death of Christopher Olsen.
The only option is to dismiss the case
and acquit Stella Sandell.
[Hannah] Thank you.
Then this, uh, hearing is now concluded.
We now will remain in this room
while we consider all of the evidence.
I kindly ask you all to wait outside
while we deliberate.
[tense music playing]
[handcuffs closing]
[tense music playing]
[rock music playing loudly]
[Chris] Lie still, I said.
Stop it!
Stay there.
Stay there.
Lie back.
Not so up yourself now, are you?
Huh? Not so up yourself now, are you?
[suspenseful music playing]
[Chris] Look at me.
Look at me!
[Chris yelps, grunts]
[Amina breathing heavily]
[Chris] Fuck!
Come here!
[Amina gasps]
ANALYSIS: ALL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS
THAT THE 19-YEAR-OLD IS GUILTY
[woman over PA] Verdict to be delivered
in Courtroom One.
[buzz of conversations]
[door opens]
[voices murmuring indistinctly]
[clears throat] This court has deliberated
and will now deliver its verdict.
[suspenseful music playing]
The evidence of the defence,
supported by the testimony
of Amina Besic,
demonstrates that it is not
proven beyond reasonable doubt
that Stella Sandell acted
in the manner alleged by the prosecution.
We the court rule
that in the charge against Stella Sandell
that she is not guilty of murder.
- Oh, thank God.
- [relieved sigh]
[Hannah] She is to be released
immediately.
[Ulrika] Oh!
- [Ulrika gasps]
- You're free. It's over.
[emotional instrumental music playing]
[sobbing]
[both sobbing]
[Stella whimpers]
Oh
[both sobbing]
[solemn music playing]
[music fades]
[choir singing ethereal hymn]
[choir continue singing ethereal hymn]
Adam?
- I thought it was you.
- Hey!
- Hi. Hey!
- Hey.
- [chuckles]
- Lovely.
[sighs]
So, how have you been?
[Adam] Yeah. I'm good.
I came to say hi, and to hand in my laptop
and tie up some loose ends
and bits before I go.
It seems it's even harder
to take the collar off
than it is to put it on.
Well, it is rather unusual
for someone to leave the church.
- I'm not leaving the church.
- Mm.
But I can no longer be a priest, Siri.
At least, not right now.
Oh, you'll be such a great loss, Adam.
Thank you.
- Stay for a cup of coffee?
- Yeah, love to.
- Mm?
- If you can make me a fresh one.
- Oh, of course. [chuckles]
- Can't do instant.
[group] God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
[indistinct chattering]
- Bye, then.
- See you.
- Take care.
- See you.
[man] Yeah, I'll see you next time.
- [Adam] Hey.
- Hi.
- How did it go?
- Good.
- [indistinct chattering]
- [bustle of traffic]
[horn honking]
[matchbox rattling]
[solemn music playing]
[Chris] No, you don't!
Come here!
[Chris] Come here!
[Chris grunts]
[tense music playing]
[Amina] Stella!
Stella, come on!
Stella!
[Chris groans]
You fucking whore! [grunts]
[Chris grunts]
[Chris screaming]
[Chris gasping]
[solemn music playing]
[rhythmic tapping]
[unsettling music playing]
[music fades out]