The woman, who was in her 20s, was found dead on December 3, 2019 in Vramsån in Tollarp, eleven days after she disappeared.
On the same day as the disappearance, the woman's mother drove along the E 22 in Tollarp.
The man was under the influence of drugs and she saw him swaying along the wall branch.
And because she knew the man, she picked him up in her car and gave him a ride home.
What the mother did not know then was that her daughter had already been murdered, and that the man she was driving home would later be prosecuted for the murder.
Be childhood friends
The man and the woman knew each other.
They were childhood friends and according to the preliminary investigation, they went to the same school, lived close to each other and still hung out.
The woman often bought drugs from the man and has debts to him.
Both had substance abuse problems and have previously been convicted of minor drug offenses.
- My client denies the crime and he is extremely sorry that his friend no longer exists.
The case also lacks strong technical evidence, says Melka Kjellberg, the man's lawyer.
According to the indictment, the man cut and stabbed the woman with a sharp object.
The woman then died of external bleeding.
And the murder must have taken place near Vramsån in Tollarp at noon on 22 November 2019.
A red jacket belonging to the accused man was found at Vramsån.
A knife was found in the pocket, which according to the preliminary investigation is to come from the murdered woman's home.
According to the forensic examination, it appears that some of the woman's injuries may have been caused by such a type of knife, which was found in the man's jacket.
Photo: Police
- I do not want to go into any motive.
But there is evidence that supports my indictment and that the accused has murdered the woman, says Kristina Amilon, prosecutor.
The hearings in Kristianstad District Court will last for fourteen days - starting today.