Lawyer for woman convicted of planning school attack submits response to Supreme Court with new evidence

The defence for Evita Kolmonen, convicted of planning a school attack in Iisalmi, has filed its response to the Supreme Court, opposing prosecutors’ calls for a harsher sentence, Yle reports.

Kolmonen was sentenced to three years and two months in prison in 2024 for preparing a serious offence against life or health after planning an attack on Isonkyrö school centre. The Court of Appeal upheld the original district court ruling, but prosecutors have now appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking a tougher penalty.

A key dispute centres on whether the planned act constitutes a single offence or multiple offences. The defence argues that, while the school contained multiple potential victims, Kolmonen had no specific targets in mind—comparing the situation to traffic violations, where endangering several people still counts as one offence. They maintain the Court of Appeal assessed the case correctly.

The defence also challenges claims about the premeditated nature of the plan, stating that Isonkyrö school was chosen only shortly before the intended attack and that Kolmonen had no long-term concrete preparations. They have submitted a new post-sentence assessment from the Criminal Sanctions Agency analysing Kolmonen’s personal circumstances and motives, which was not available during earlier proceedings.

Kolmonen has already served her full sentence and opposes any further imprisonment if the Supreme Court were to increase the penalty. The case will be heard at a later date.