Eric Torell's father in court: "Eric loved police officers"

It was just before 4:00 in the morning when Eric Torell's father woke up and discovered that his son was no longer in the apartment in Vasastan.

Some hour earlier he had asked Eric Torell to go to bed soon. It would be one of the last things he said to his son.

- Eric had problems with the circadian rhythm, he didn't really understand that you have to go to bed and get up early, he explained to the court.

So, Eric Torell's father opened his emotional testimony on the second day of trial.

Among other things, he received questions about how his son was as a person and how he was affected by his diagnoses.

- In many ways he was at a three-to-four-year level. But he was very kind and peaceful, the father explained.

During the testimony, it emerged that Eric Torell had escaped from home earlier. However, it was several years ago last.

- That's why I was very surprised when I woke up this morning and he had gone out. I walked around the apartment looking for him, then I went out. It was a fine morning, completely empty.

Eric Torell's father also had questions about the toy weapon his son brought out.

- He got it when he was three to four years old. He did not play with it. Not at all. He had broken it too so it was not intact.

The testimony was gathered, while the voice sometimes faltered. Before the crowded hall, the father went on to describe how he tried to persuade the police, who were on another case, to help look for Eric Torell.

When Deputy Prosecutor Bengt Åsbäck asked Eric Torell's father if his son could understand the police's commands, he replied:

- "Police, drop the weapon" - no, he didn't understand. But Eric loved cops. He was safe with the family and the police.

It was most emotional when Eric Torell's father told him how he got the death sentence from two police officers.

- One of them said: "your son was armed, he was shot and died". I responded ... it was horrible to hear. I became completely empty. I sit there one beautiful morning and then I get to go with the police to Karolinska Hospital.

He continues:

- It was heavy steps. I sat in a room with the cops and everyone was silent. After a while, a surgeon came into the room and was noticeably affected. He said he was sorry but couldn't save him. He had tried but it was late.