Husband Cleared in Wife's Death - Moose is Held as Prime Suspect

Police: moose now suspect in death of Swedish woman

Nov 29 2009


STOCKHOLM— Swedish police say they've cleared a man who was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife after deciding the culprit was most likely a moose.

Police spokesman Ulf Karlsson says "the improbable has become probable" in the puzzling death last year of 63-year old Agneta Westlund. She was found dead after an evening stroll in the forest.

According to news reports, the victim's husband, Ingemar Westlund, was jailed for 10 days. The case against him was dropped in January.

Karlsson declined to give details of the case Saturday, saying a news conference would be held Tuesday.

The tabloid Expressen says hairs and saliva from a moose _ aka a European elk _ were found on the victim's clothes. Police would not immediately confirm that.

Police arrested a moose near the area where the woman's body was found, near a moose crossing. The moose was being held at a local animal farm pending completion of the investigation. It is not clear if the moose will be charged if DNA tests on the saliva and hairs found on the woman's clothing match DNA obtained from a sample of the suspected moose's fur and saliva.

The moose's court appointed attorney said her client will not have a statement to make, now or ever. "The moose is innocent until proven guilty," she said.