Norwegian man accused of suffocating woman in Sweden to testify in murder trial

A 55-year-old Norwegian man, Steinar Wangen, will take the stand Friday in a Swedish court to explain his role in the 2024 death of a 47-year-old woman in Trollhättan, Dagbladet reports.

Wangen is charged with suffocating Malin—identified only by her first name—with a pillow after she lost consciousness from alcohol and medication. He denies criminal responsibility. Relatives of the victim, represented by counsel Heidi Reisvang, are attending the proceedings.

“Malin was in an extremely vulnerable state, which the accused exploited,” Reisvang told the court.

Prosecutors presented messages Thursday between Wangen and the victim, including his stated plan to “suffocate her with a pillow.” The prosecution has also filed an alternate charge of assisting suicide if the court does not convict on murder.

In 2024, undercover journalists from Norway’s TV 2 posed as a suicidal woman seeking help to die. Wangen allegedly outlined a method involving alcohol, pills, and suffocation, claiming he had previously killed three others this way. After a confrontation at Nordby Hotel, police arrested him in October 2024.

Journalist Janne Amble, who participated in the sting, described seeing Wangen in court as “intense.” She said he had written from prison to express feeling “deceived” by the undercover operation.

A second journalist involved, Kadafi Zaman, is scheduled to testify Tuesday after being called by the defense.