Murder charge in Kontula: man died from thinner dose at social gathering
A 29-year-old man faced murder charges in Helsinki District Court. The victim, 32, died in Kontula in January 2024 after ingesting thinner.
Murder charge in Kontula: 32-year-old man died from thinner dose
According to Ilta-Sanomat, Helsinki District Court heard a murder charge on Friday 28 August that has been almost entirely kept from public attention. The crime took place on 7 January 2024 in Helsinki's Kontula district. The prosecutor described the case as exceptional in court.
The 29-year-old defendant arrived at the courthouse on bail. He waited for the hearing to begin with his lawyer, Kari Eriksson, outside the courtroom with his hood up. As he walked into the courtroom, he covered his face with a baseball cap as the media filmed. During the hearing, he sat calmly, occasionally looking at the table.
The evening ended in death
According to the charges, the men spent the evening at the victim's girlfriend's flat in Kontula and drank alcohol. The girlfriend and another woman were also present. According to the prosecutor's assessment, the intoxicated victim may have irritated the defendant during the evening.
As a result of the irritation, the defendant allegedly gave the victim a large dose of thinner in secret with the intention of making him fall asleep. Thinner is an industrial chemical and solvent that is used illegally as an intoxicant. According to the prosecutor, the dose was lethal.
– The victim ingested this and very quickly lost consciousness, the prosecutor stated in court.
The victim's girlfriend could not wake the man later and called the emergency centre. The rescue personnel who arrived pronounced the victim dead.
Police initially suspected manslaughter
Police initially investigated the case as a death inquiry, then as manslaughter. During the investigation, however, it emerged that the concentration of the intoxicating substance in the victim was remarkably high, and other circumstances led to the charge being changed to aggravated manslaughter. The prosecutor ultimately brought a murder charge.
– I have been of the opinion from the beginning that this should have been investigated as murder, the prosecutor said in court.
As an alternative, the prosecutor is seeking punishment for aggravated manslaughter. The victim's relatives are claiming damages for suffering and other costs exceeding 14,000 euros from the defendant.
Defendant denies the crime
The defendant did not wish to be heard in court. Lawyer Eriksson denied that the act fulfilled the elements of murder or manslaughter.
– The victim was a drug user and he used thinner. There is no information about what dose would be dangerous for whom, Eriksson argued.
According to the defence, it was an "unfortunate accident" resulting from the victim's own drug use and risk-taking.
The prosecutor considers the evidence to show that the act was intentional.
– The question to be resolved is whether the defendant gave thinner and what he must have understood and considered to be probable events, the prosecutor added.
The court will deliver its ruling at a later date.
Source: Ilta-Sanomat