Sweden: woman 'murdered' by elk, not husband

A man arrested in Sweden on suspicion of murdering his wife has been cleared after police decided she was probably killed by an elk.

Published: 4:24PM GMT 28 Nov 2009

Ingemar Westlund, 68, found the body of his wife Agneta, 63, by a lake close to the village of Loftahammer in September 2008.

His wife had last been seen taking the family dog out for a walk in the forest. When she failed to return her husband went out to look for her.

Mr Westlund was arrested and held in police custody for 10 days.

However, the case has now finally been dropped after forensic analysis found elk hair and saliva on his wife's clothes.

Although the murder investigation was dropped five months ago, details have only just emerged and the police plan to hold a news conference next week to explain what happened.

Mr Westlund told the Expressen newspaper in Sweden: "My family and I have been dragged through a nightmare."

The European elk, or moose, is usually considered to be shy and will normally run away from humans. But Swedish Radio International says the animals can become aggressive after eating fermented fallen apples in gardens.

Some cultures revere the elk as a spiritual force. In parts of Asia, antlers and their velvet are used in traditional medicines. Elk are hunted as a game species; the meat is leaner and higher in protein than beef or chicken.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6678397/Sweden-woman-murdered-by-elk-not-husband.html