Rovaniemi sword attack trial delayed as suspect fails to appear in court

The trial of a March sword attack in Rovaniemi has been postponed after a 20-year-old man accused of attempted murder failed to appear in Lapland District Court, Yle reports.

A judge ordered police to locate and detain the absent defendant, along with a missing witness who also did not attend Wednesday’s hearing despite a court summons. The proceedings, originally set to conclude this week, will now resume no earlier than Monday, April 20, if the individuals are found.

Three men face attempted murder charges in connection with the incident, which occurred outside a Rovaniemi nightclub in March. All deny the charges, claiming their intent was only to intimidate.

The 20-year-old defendant is the son of another accused man, aged 38, who owns the katana—a traditional Japanese sword—used in the attack. The third defendant, a 30-year-old man currently in custody, allegedly wielded the weapon. The intended target was reportedly a different individual, unrelated to the victim, due to a case of mistaken identity.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the 38-year-old defendant repeated his apology to the victim, stating he had been intoxicated at the time but denied using drugs. He maintained the sword was not meant to be used violently.

Security staff from the nightclub testified they witnessed the attack through a glass door, intervened, and later assisted police in detaining the assailant. The victim received first aid at the scene.

Prosecutors have described the case as highly unusual, noting the victim was a random bystander with no connection to the intended target. The motive is believed to involve disputes over drug debts.