Today, the hearing began in the Court of Appeal in the case concerning the death of five-year-old John Walters at Platea's residential care home in Hagfors in June 2021. Two employees at the nursing home were convicted in May 2023 of negligent homicide. They were sentenced to probation, but also to pay damages to John Walter's relatives.
"It's basically the same evidence that is invoked, so I expect a similar outcome in the Court of Appeal," prosecutor Stefan Wessman told SVT.
Unusual claim
The prosecutor demands that the two female carers be convicted of causing another's death. The parents, through the plaintiff's counsel Madeleine Käärki, demand that the employees be convicted of a serious crime.
"It's quite unusual for the plaintiff to demand a harsher punishment than the prosecutor, but if you're going to convict someone of gross negligence, it basically requires intent, and I don't think that's relevant in this case." It's a horrible accident, says prosecutor Stefan Wessman.
Denies claims for damages
In the District Court, the defendants accepted the claims for damages, but in the Court of Appeal they denied the claims for damages. According to P4 Värmland, the defenders refer to the so-called "principal right", which means that the employer must pay the damages.
SVT has reached out to the two women's lawyers, but they do not want to comment before the hearing in the Court of Appeal is over.
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The motive for the light manifestation in Hagfors on Friday evening is to put the spotlight on health and social care and cutbacks after the John Walter verdict, explains the initiator Maria Hög. Photo: Filip Jemtelius/SVT