World : Man Backs Palme Suspect’s Alibi
STOCKHOLM — A witness today testified he saw the man charged with killing Prime Minister Olaf Palme at a train station around the time Palme was shot outside a movie theater.
Algot Asell, 68, was the first witness in the trial to support the alibi of the defendant, Christer Pettersson. Pettersson denies killing Palme.
The prosecution said it would call witnesses to cast doubt on Asell’s credibility.
Asell said he saw Pettersson waiting for a train at the Marsta station between 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, 1986. Palme, a four-term prime minister, was fatally shot at 11:21 that night while walking home with his wife from a movie. The train station is about 18 miles from the crime scene and more than 30 minutes by train.
Other witnesses have testified they saw Pettersson waiting for Palme outside the movie theater and following him down the street.
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