Man charged over Lindh's murder

Anna Lindh's murder shocked Sweden

A 25-year-old man has been formally charged by prosecutors with murdering Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh in Stockholm last year.

Mijailo Mijailovic confessed last week to stabbing her in a department store on 10 September, after denying the crime for four months.

The move sets the stage for his trial to begin on Wednesday.

Mr Mijailovic's lawyer said he would now admit knifing the popular Ms Lindh on an impulse.

The BBC's Lars Bevanger says the death of Ms Lindh shook Swedish society and the trial, which will be broadcast live on Swedish radio, is expected to be followed by a large section of the population.

According to documents filed with the Stockholm District Court, prosecutors said Ms Lindh, 46, was stabbed 10 times in the attack and had wounds all over her body.

She died in hospital the next day despite undergoing emergency surgery.

'Inner voice'

Along with the murder charges, the prosecution has now made public its evidence against Mr Mijailovic.

Mijailovic says it was a random attack

This runs to more than 1,000 pages and includes DNA evidence and video footage of his movements immediately before and after the attack on Ms Lindh.

Mr Mijailovic - a Swede of Serbian origin - said in his confession it was a random attack.

Lead investigator Leif Jennekvist said the attack was premeditated murder.

"He decided to kill her, and he did it. He says he did it at the command of an inner voice belonging to Jesus," he told reporters.

Mr Mijailovic could be sentenced to between 10 years and life in prison, or to a mental hospital if found not mentally competent.