Psychiatrist sentenced to life imprisonment for murder of wife in Helsinki

The Helsinki District Court has today delivered a verdict in the case of a psychiatrist accused of murdering his wife. Roope Bob Tikkanen, born in 1974, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, although the ruling is not yet final.

The crime took place in the couple’s shared home in December 2022. Tikkanen reportedly struck his wife multiple times on the head and engaged in other violent acts. The authorities became aware of the incident when Tikkanen was seen moving his wife’s body to a car outside their residence.

This case had already seen an interim ruling earlier this year, which stated that there was no evidence to suggest the act was premeditated or planned. The motive remains unclear, but the court indicated there was significant evidence pointing to the possibility of jealousy playing a role in the events.

Tikkanen had previously been declared sane during a psychiatric evaluation conducted around the time of the crime, confirming he was fully aware of his actions that led to his wife’s death. While he has admitted to causing her death, he maintains that it was an accident and has denied the murder charge.

The family’s history includes a troubling prior incident wherein Tikkanen drove his car into the sea with the entire family inside. That case was deemed an accident by the police, and Tikkanen received a fine. Further updates on the case will be provided.