Man from Oulu faces attempted murder charges in district court trial

A man from Oulu is facing charges of attempted murder against his 70-year-old neighbor and assault against another neighbor. The trial commenced this morning at the Oulu District Court. The violent incidents allegedly occurred in May of last year.

According to the prosecutor, the accused confronted the elderly neighbor in the yard of his home and struck him on the head with a steel-tipped concrete shovel and then with his fist. The elderly man became incapacitated due to the violence. Following the attack, he is accused of dragging the victim into the building’s stairwell and pushing him down a 15-step concrete staircase. The victim reportedly fell at least halfway down and ended up in the basement corridor, where the assault continued with kicking and punching. As a result, the victim sustained severe and multiple injuries and was found unconscious. He survived only due to the rapid transfer to intensive care.

The man suspected of the attack was arrested at the scene shortly after the incident, and blood from the victim was found on his hands and clothing. He has partially admitted to hitting his neighbor and dragging him but denies other accusations, including using the shovel. The defense claims it was merely a case of simple assault, while the prosecution stated that no clear motive for the violence has been established.

The suspect is scheduled to testify in court later today. He has been in pre-trial detention since May. The prosecution is seeking a minimum four-year prison sentence. The 70-year-old victim is asking for nearly €40,000 in damages for both mental and physical suffering. Additionally, the accused faces charges stemming from another incident just days earlier, where he allegedly assaulted a different neighbor unexpectedly. The court’s ruling will be announced at a later date.