Phuket expat, in death revealed as witness in shocking Sweden murders

[webfact]

Phuket expat, in death revealed as witness in shocking Sweden murders
Phuket Gazette


Aino Marianne Seppala, seen here in a photo taken in 2008, was a key witness in one of Sweden's most shocking murder cases. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The 57-year-old Swedish expat found dead in her home in Chalong earlier this month was a key witness to one of the most shocking murder trials in Sweden’s history.

The body of Aino Marianne Seppala was found lying on a couch in her living room on June 10. There was no evidence of violence in the room, reported police (story here).

ScandAsia now reports that Ms Seppala was once known as “Dagboksvittnet Anna”, or in English: “Anna the journal witness” (story here)

Swedish national daily newspaper Aftonblaet reported that the moniker was given after Ms Seppala in 1988 provided journals to Stockholm police as evidence against two doctors charged with the murder of prostitute Catrine de Costa (story here).

Ms de Costa disappeared in June 1984. Plastic bags containing several of her body parts were found a month later. Weeks after that, more body parts were discovered.

“Ms de Costa’s head, genitalia, inner organs and one of her breasts were never found. The finding of the body parts led to one of the most startling cases in Swedish history, a case in which the now deceased Marianne Aino played a big part,” reported ScandAsia.

The journals Ms Seppala provided to police contained information saying that Ms de Costa had known two “pervert doctors”.

“She showed the journals to the prosecutor, claiming that she had written down what Catrine told her in 1983 and 1984 about the doctors. According to the journals, the doctors and Catrine had sex in something referred to as the death room and also in the presence of a small child,” said the ScandAsia report.

“The authenticity of the journals came into question as the statements in the District Court in 1988 differed from the information she provided to the police four years earlier when Catrine’s remains had been identified,” the report added.

Allegedly, the information Ms Seppala initially provided to police did not include doctors, children or death rooms and was reportedly inconsistent with what was in the diaries.

The doctors were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Much later, in 2000, Ms Seppala was questioned by police on suspicion of perjury.

“She was unable to explain the contradictory information that she provided. The disputed diaries had disappeared and she told police she did not know where they were,” ScandAsia reported.

No charges were ever raised against Ms Seppala.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-expat-in-death-revealed-as-witness-in-shocking-Sweden-murders-21485.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-06-28

[SteeleJoe]

Whoa!

Didn't see THAT coming...

[Suradit69]

Whoa!

Didn't see THAT coming...

It does sort of boggle the mind ... on so many levels.

[Traxster]

Sounds like the script for an el cheapo B Grade movie.....!

Edited June 28, 2013 by Traxster

[BrianCR]

Isn't this the same person who used to run an animal sanctuary in Chiang Mai?

[JulesMad]

Sounds like the script for an el cheapo B Grade movie.....!

I would like to see it, though

[Emdog]

So how is the murder investigation going? Or is there one? Or is this another "suicide"?

[JetsetBkk]

Sounds like the script for an el cheapo B Grade movie.....!

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" springs to mind - but that was an excellent movie.

[Postmaster]

JetsetBKK +1 Just fabulous movie that one.

[TheWalkingMan]

wow

[iSabai]

Sounds like the script for an el cheapo B Grade movie.....!

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" springs to mind - but that was an excellent movie.

Actually, I thought that movie sucked, at least the Daniel Craig version did. I highly recommend the books instead, the entire trilogy was excellent reading.

[BrianCR]

A lady is found dead and all poster can write about is good and bad movies? Amazing Thailand!

[jbrain]

I have once read somewhere that even witnesses and whistleblowers die of natural causes.

[SteeleJoe]

I have once read somewhere that even witnesses and whistleblowers die of natural causes.

Of course. And as for me, I never in any way implied or even thought that this story means she died of anything other than natural causes. In fact, I don't think anyone on the thread suggested that it did.

In fact, did you not catch the part where there is some doubt as to whether she even was a witness of anything or if so, what? I did. So there isn't even necessarily any reason for someone to to kill her...or would THAT be the motive - that she lied? Or is it a case where they made it look like she lied, but then silenced her as retribution. Or?...

It's quite a remarkable story that allows for all sorts of dramatic interpretations and hypothetical scenarios - that's all. In actual fact, for all I know (very little, in regards to this case) there's just as much reason (or more) to think there was no foul play at all.