Helsinki court begins trial over fatal Konala shotgun attack

The trial of a man accused of shooting two people with a sawn-off shotgun in a Helsinki apartment has begun, with prosecutors demanding convictions for manslaughter, attempted manslaughter, and firearms offences, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

A 30-year-old man is suspected of firing the weapon in a private residence in the Konala district in December 2025, killing one victim and wounding another. The defendant has admitted to the firearms charge but disputes the severity of the prosecution’s sentencing demands for the shootings.

According to the prosecution, the accused has a history of serious violent crimes over the past decade. Authorities have requested a psychiatric evaluation and a combined sentence. The suspect remains in custody while awaiting verdict.

Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Kolsarinkatu address in the early hours of 9 December 2025. Investigators found that a group of armed individuals had entered the victims’ apartment, where two shots were fired—one fatally striking a man in the leg, causing him to bleed to death, and another wounding a second person in the leg.

Four additional defendants face charges related to the case, including firearms violations, drug offences, unauthorised vehicle use, and traffic endangerment. Some have prior criminal records. The trial continues next week in Helsinki District Court, with a verdict expected at a later date.