Hampus Hellekant
Encyclopedia
Karl Helge Hampus Hellekant, later Karl Svensson (born January 30, 1976 in Danderyd, Stockholm County
) is a Swedish neo-Nazi who was sentenced to 11 years of prison for the murder of syndicalist union member Björn Söderberg
on October 12, 1999. Shortly before the murder, Hellekant and some of his friends created "death lists" of more than 1200 Swedish individuals they wanted dead. Because of the content of the lists, his friends were also sentenced and the murder was declared a hate crime
. Hellekant's efforts to become a physician, and his eventual dismissal from medical school at Karolinska Institute
, became a controversial case in medical ethics
.
revealed that Robert Vesterlund, a prominent figure in the Swedish neo-Nazi movement, held a chair in the board of the local chapter of the Swedish Commercial Employees' Union
at Svanströms lager in Stockholm
. Arbetaren had received the information from a co-worker of Vesterlund, the syndicalist union
member Björn Söderberg. A week later, Vesterlund was expelled from his union, and quit his job.
Because of this, Hellekant and two friends, Björn Lindberg-Hernlund and Jimmy Niklasson, came to Söderberg's home in Sätra
on October 12. Hellekant has admitted that he, ordered by another person, called Söderberg a few hours earlier. A brawl ensued, and a few minutes later, Söderberg had been shot multiple times, including in the head.
In 2005, he was caught while on temporary release from the prison, suspected of assisting a fellow inmate at the Hall prison in an escape attempt. In February 2007, he was released on probation.
at the Karolinska University Hospital
. When his criminal history became known to the university as well as the media in early November, a debate ensued as to whether a convicted murderer should be allowed to practice medicine. While some commentators called for Hellekant to be expelled from the university, Karolinska decided that he would be allowed to continue his studies, with head master Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson stating there was no legal way to expel him, as "no national policy covers the situation". She did however state that she considers it unethical to let convicted murderers practice medicine, and that it would be hard for Hellekant to get a physicians' license from the National Board of Health and Welfare, which is required to practice. In January 2008 it was discovered that Hellekant apparently had falsified the name on his high school transcripts, and that the authenticity of his high school grades could not be verified. He was then expelled from Karolinska. However, in 2009 it was reported that Hellekant had been accepted to medical school at Uppsala University
.
The case generated a debate within the medical community, both in Sweden and abroad, over the appropriate criteria for exclusion from medical school. Bioethicist Jacob Appel
, an advocate for Hellekant, argued that "medical authorities would be remiss if they overlooked the unique, positive characterisistics that a gifted ex-felon might bring to the profession" and suggested that ex-felons might be well-suited to the distinctive demands of providing medical care within the prison system.
Stockholm County
Stockholm County is a county or län on the Baltic sea coast of Sweden. It borders Uppsala County and Södermanland County. It also borders Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city of Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm County is divided by the historic provinces of Uppland and Södermanland...
) is a Swedish neo-Nazi who was sentenced to 11 years of prison for the murder of syndicalist union member Björn Söderberg
Björn Söderberg
Björn Söderberg, born 1958, was a Swedish union active syndicalist who was murdered in Sätra, Stockholm on October 12, 1999.Björn Söderberg had made a tip to the newspaper Arbetaren owned by Sveriges Arbetares Centralorganisation about his colleague Robert Vesterlund...
on October 12, 1999. Shortly before the murder, Hellekant and some of his friends created "death lists" of more than 1200 Swedish individuals they wanted dead. Because of the content of the lists, his friends were also sentenced and the murder was declared a hate crime
Hate crime
In crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
. Hellekant's efforts to become a physician, and his eventual dismissal from medical school at Karolinska Institute
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska institutet is a medical university in Solna within the Stockholm urban area, Sweden, and one of Europe's largest medical universities...
, became a controversial case in medical ethics
Medical ethics
Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology.-History:Historically,...
.
Murder of Björn Söderberg
On September 16, 1999, the syndicalist newspaper ArbetarenArbetaren
Arbetaren is a Swedish weekly newspaper, founded in 1922. It is published by the anarcho-syndicalist union SAC, Central Organisation of the Workers of Sweden....
revealed that Robert Vesterlund, a prominent figure in the Swedish neo-Nazi movement, held a chair in the board of the local chapter of the Swedish Commercial Employees' Union
Swedish Commercial Employees' Union
Handels, The Commercial Employees' Union, is Sweden's third-largest blue-collar union, with some 145 000 members, of which around 25 000 are retired. Women make up over 70 percent of our membership....
at Svanströms lager in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. Arbetaren had received the information from a co-worker of Vesterlund, the syndicalist union
Central Organisation of the Workers of Sweden
Central Organisation of the Workers of Sweden is an anarcho-syndicalist trade union federation in Sweden. Unlike other Swedish unions, SAC organizes people from all occupations, including the unemployed, students, and the retired...
member Björn Söderberg. A week later, Vesterlund was expelled from his union, and quit his job.
Because of this, Hellekant and two friends, Björn Lindberg-Hernlund and Jimmy Niklasson, came to Söderberg's home in Sätra
Sätra
Sätra is a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden. It has its own Metro station.-See also:*Sätra metro station...
on October 12. Hellekant has admitted that he, ordered by another person, called Söderberg a few hours earlier. A brawl ensued, and a few minutes later, Söderberg had been shot multiple times, including in the head.
In 2005, he was caught while on temporary release from the prison, suspected of assisting a fellow inmate at the Hall prison in an escape attempt. In February 2007, he was released on probation.
Medical school controversy
In the fall of 2007, Hellekant enrolled in medical schoolMedical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
at the Karolinska University Hospital
Karolinska University Hospital
The Karolinska University Hospital is a university hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, with two major sites in the municipalities of Huddinge and Solna....
. When his criminal history became known to the university as well as the media in early November, a debate ensued as to whether a convicted murderer should be allowed to practice medicine. While some commentators called for Hellekant to be expelled from the university, Karolinska decided that he would be allowed to continue his studies, with head master Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson stating there was no legal way to expel him, as "no national policy covers the situation". She did however state that she considers it unethical to let convicted murderers practice medicine, and that it would be hard for Hellekant to get a physicians' license from the National Board of Health and Welfare, which is required to practice. In January 2008 it was discovered that Hellekant apparently had falsified the name on his high school transcripts, and that the authenticity of his high school grades could not be verified. He was then expelled from Karolinska. However, in 2009 it was reported that Hellekant had been accepted to medical school at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
.
The case generated a debate within the medical community, both in Sweden and abroad, over the appropriate criteria for exclusion from medical school. Bioethicist Jacob Appel
Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
, an advocate for Hellekant, argued that "medical authorities would be remiss if they overlooked the unique, positive characterisistics that a gifted ex-felon might bring to the profession" and suggested that ex-felons might be well-suited to the distinctive demands of providing medical care within the prison system.