Did Lisbeth salander kill Hans-Erik Wennerström

I am involved in a serious dispute with an ill informed individual who insists that Lisbeth s killed Hans-Erik Wennerström, and made it look like a suicide. I believe that Lisbeth simply stole Wennerström's money, and was not involved in anyway in his death. Neither of us has read the book, but we saw the film together and were captivated by it. Who can shed daylight on this question?

Posted by Neil i Bristol, UK , 7 September 2010

Lisbeth stole the money from his accounts. She then made a phone call Wennerstrom's mafia partners who probably was to be payed with money in one of the accounts that was now empty.

Posted by Barb in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada , 7 September 2010

NO! she did not kill him - you have misjudged her whole character. She would never kill for money - she would kill to protect someone or for self defense. She didn't even kill when she was raped and she could have instead of exacting her revenge. The only person she would have killed whould have been her father to protect her mother. She really was very moral even though she was flawed. She didn't take the money from the account for the money itself - she did it so Blomkvist could get the proof he needed.

Posted by Sylvia in Jay, NY , 8 September 2010

sylvia is totally right!

Posted by Jennifer in Heidelberg, Germany , 8 September 2010

She didn't kill him; but she did make the call that led to his death. She was the only one who knew where he was...she was tracking him through his computer. He was in hiding from the police and from several mafias because Lisbeth had stolen all his money, and he had now way to make payments to the gangsters. When Lisbeth grew tired of tracking him, she tipped off a ganster lawyer as to his whereabouts, and they were the ones who killed him. So no, she did not kill him, but she was the one who led to his death.

Posted by Katy in Ashburn, VA , 8 September 2010

I think that by making that call, the one that lead to his death, she did kill him.

Posted by Michael in Toronto, Ontario, CANADA , 8 September 2010

She was directly responsible for his death. Not that he did not have it coming, but hers was vigilante justice.

Similarly, later on in the series, when she made another call leading to someone's death. She could have called the police anonymously. Or Dragan. Instead, she planned someone's murder and then put the murder into play.

Posted by D Peters in Calgary , 10 September 2010

She was directly responsible for his death.

Notify the mafia where he was, betray his hiding place, is to be involved in his death.

Posted by Daniel in Buenos Aires Argentina , 10 September 2010

Lisbeth made it happen in her way. If Larsson were to continue writing, which we know he will not, he would bring in a few repercussions from her actions. I would surmise, however, that they would not be too severe. He loved this character.

Posted by Mae in Fay, NC , 10 September 2010

Listbeth's call was purposeful the attorney representing the drug trade, providing name and location, so she was responsible, motivated by the treatment of the 22 year old waitress forced to get an abortion or die underwater in the bathtub.

Posted by Jim in Kent wa , 11 September 2010

She didn't kill him. By making the phone call she led him to commit suicide but she was not responsible for own acts. The description of her character along the three books makes us believe that she would only react if she was at risk.By taking all that fortune from him she knew it would be his end. She didn't need to kill him physically.

Posted by Manuela Dias in lisbon , 15 September 2010

I am hoping that some wise and knowledgeable person can assist me. If I had known how many characters would be introduced I would have kept a list or a log. Perhaps someone has a list of the good guys and the baddies. If so, I would be grateful to receive it or have it posted. I am presently 105 pages into the 3rd book - of course bitter that Stieg died before the ten books he planned.

Posted by Patricia Strong in Weiser Idaho , 18 September 2010

My email address is 4miamici@gmail.com

Phone is 208-549-0999. I am trapped in this town in Idaho. My heart is elsewhere. My natal city is Seattle, WA.

Posted by Patricia Strong in Seattle, , 18 September 2010

I think he was killed by Mafia, although she

probably had a part in it by telling them where

they could find him. I don't think she would see

it as wrong to have him killed. She is in some

ways a person who takes the law into her own

hands.

Posted by Setaian in Sydney, Australia , 21 September 2010

I think she was way to moral to kill him, but I don't mind that she killed Bjurman.He definitely deserved it.I applaud her for that.To me she is one amazing girl.and extremely moral.

Posted by Katie sept.27 2010 in Westlake Village, Calif , 28 September 2010

It was the blonde giant that killed Bjurman, Jan and Dag, et al.

Posted by JAndy in Holden beach, NC , 28 September 2010

You people who think that Wennerström committed suicide, tell me how someone could possibly shoot themselves in the head THREE times, as he was! It was definitely a mob execution.

Posted by Hannah Beck in Ridgefield , 30 September 2010

she did not kill BJurman!

Posted by , 2 October 2010

Sylvia & Barb are totally right.

Posted by Chris in Warsaw, Poland , 10 November 2010

Thanks Hannah, I was wondering how long it would take someone to bring up those 3 gunshots.

Posted by Notstieg , 7 December 2010

Lizzie kept track of Wennerstrom for six months. Does this mean she kept tabs on him while on her travels, as the next book says she spent the whole year touring the world?

Posted by , 18 January 2011

Didn't she also kill Martin Vanger? It's been a while since I read the first book, but didn't she chase him on a motorcycle and he died in a fiery crash? It wasn't really explained, but I pictured her running Martin off the road and causing the crash and then just walking away.

I saw her as a vigilante. The two men may have been baddies, but neither one got their day in court.

Posted by Bob , 24 January 2011

In the movie, Salander denies assistance to Martin Vanger just before his car explodes, so we could say, in a way, that he assisted his killing.

In the book, however, Martin Vanger commits suicude by crashing his car head-on to a truck while Lisbeth was chasing him.

She didn't kill him. It was just the movie that made it look like that. There other serious diferences between the movie and the book that puzles me.

Posted by exfat in Madrid , 30 January 2011

She has not killed anyone first hand.

As previous posts ...Bjurman was kiled by blonde giant (her half brother actually)...Martin purposefully killed himself by driving into the truck..(admittedly whilst being chased by Lisbeth)..and Wennerstom had 3 gunshot wounds so most undoubtedly shot by mafia types,,,however Lisbeth may have had inkling this would happen...or may have just wanted him to go through major ordeal with his mafia connections and be afraid for his life

.....she also dobbed in the real estate agent....he could possibly have killed himself too but didn't so she only sets things in motion....perhaps not specifically to cause death

Posted by TB in Aus , 14 June 2011

Strange how the movies seemed to have changed the perception of the characters (e.g. question on Lisbeth's involvement in Martin Vanger's death). I do recommend everyone to read the books before watching the films. That somehow goes without saying for most movies but in case of the Millenium trilogy I found the film-makers really messed up some of characters. Another example is Erika Berger who is a strong woman in the books but reduced to a ridiculous figure, especially in the third movie.

Posted by Martin in Frankfurt, Germany , 14 June 2011

Re the killings, it's clear that Salander wanted these guys dead. She is moral in some ways, but is not above plotting revenge. However, she always considers the consequences before she acts and the consequence of murder is that you get hunted down and possibly go to jail. She doesn't commit these murders herself, but she does 'facilitate' them. The people she targets deserve it, and her experience is that you can't trust the justice system (e.g. the Wennerström trial) Her experience has not given her any reason to think that you can rely on the justice. She stole the money to allow her to buy her own freedom and independence, while handily getting rid of Wennerström at the same time. Het own morality would be that the guy basically stole the money in the first place. She also is quite generous and fair in dealing with people, except for the sex freaks and crooks.

Posted by Kate in BC , 9 October 2011

In the USA this is called. "Dropping a dime on someone". This expression is from the ancient days of payphones. It means making a phone call to expose someone with the expectation that the person you contact will whack them.

Posted by SpoonerandForker in NYC , 3 November 2011

I like that SpoonerandForker.

Made me :-))

Posted by Dragon Fly in England , 5 November 2011

Quite an interesting story! Shame I just saw d movie recently.

Posted by Angel in Lagos,Nigeria , 9 Mars 2012

The Movies, both fine in their individual takes on the "BOOK", are only representations of the book. Lisbeth would never kill for monetary gain... read the book.

Posted by Fan of Stieg and Eva in \Wsconsin , 22 Mars 2012

She did informed the Mafia about Wennerstrom whereabouts. Lisbeth used the justification of him making his girlfriend abort their baby as cause. When Mikael told her the story, she said Wennerstrom is another man who hates women. Any man that falls into that category doesn't deserve to live in Lisbeth' view.

Posted by sonya in new britian , 10 April 2012