Young man sentenced to over five years in prison for stabbing in Turku

A young man, 18 years old, has been sentenced to over five years in prison by the Varsinais-Suomi District Court for stabbing a 17-year-old acquaintance near the Halisten Bridge in Turku last June. The court determined that the motive behind the attack was a confrontation over a supposed crime involving a mutual female acquaintance.

According to the court, the assailant had invited the victim to accompany him for a walk, which led them to a waterfront area close to the bridge. There, the attacker began to strike and swing a knife at his companion. Two of the strikes struck the victim, causing life-threatening injuries. The victim managed to escape the assault and was able to call emergency services for help.

The assailant was charged in August with attempted murder. However, the court concluded that he did not act with premeditation, and therefore, he was not guilty of attempted murder. Instead, the District Court sentenced Petri Juhani Laitinen to five years and three months in prison for, among other charges, attempted manslaughter. Laitinen denied trying to kill the victim but admitted to committing aggravated assault. The sentence has not yet become final.