SVT Nyheter has reviewed the case of John Walter since the morning he went missing and was found lifeless in the river.

It was eight unguarded minutes where the night staff and children were separated in two separate rooms that allowed the boy to escape.

The district court found it proven that the door had been closed for a few minutes and convicted the night staff of causing another person's death through negligence.

That morning, two of the night staff were responsible for eight children, each three children according to the records were to be spot guarded.

In the aftermath, critical voices have been raised who believe that it is unreasonable that staff are sentenced while the management goes free.

Want to increase safety for children and staff

- Who is it that can make sure that a better fence is built, that can fix the gate?

Who is going to make sure it is staffed?

We want to be able to trust that the business also takes its responsibility, says Camilla Hülphers, former employee at Platea and now chairman of the local Independent Realist party. 

Today, several of the staff want a change in the law, a Lex John Walter, so that the management will be held criminally responsible for the children's safety. 

- And if you don't do that, it's a crime, so that these children who live in an institution don't get any worse than they can actually do now, says Therese Hollsten, who worked at Platea until the end of 2019.

Through the police's preliminary investigation, SVT has been able to draw a picture of John Walter's last hours in life.

Warning for strong images.

Photo: Private/police preliminary investigation/SVT



"It might as well have been one of us"

- This should not be able to happen, there should be staff who stop, says Karin Lind, who also worked at Platea.

Maria Hög, who works at an LSS home and who organized a light demonstration to shed light on the issue, also thinks so.

- This could just as well be one of us.

I hear that colleagues all over the country are screaming for more staff, more resources.

We who work in care are proud, but more money must be brought in and the money must end up on the floor, on more staff.

- I think it's a lot of work, but the anxiety we feel is nothing compared to what these families have suffered, says Therese Hollsten.