Man sentenced to nearly six years in prison after fatal assault over missing amphetamine bag

A Finnish district court has sentenced a man to five years and 10 months in prison for a violent attack that left one person dead and another severely injured, following a dispute over a missing bag of amphetamines, reports Yle.

The North Savo District Court found Kai Markus Tolvanen guilty of aggravated manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated deprivation of liberty, violation of the peace of the grave, and payment fraud. He was also ordered to pay approximately €31,000 in compensation to the victims.

The fatal incident occurred in a private apartment near Kuopio railway station in spring 2025. According to the court, Tolvanen assaulted a man for hours, using fists, strangulation, kicks, and strikes with a machete, causing fatal head injuries. The violence began after Tolvanen accused the victim of stealing his amphetamine bag.

A woman present in the apartment was also severely injured, suffering a leg wound from the machete that required surgery. Tolvanen prevented her from leaving, constituting aggravated deprivation of liberty. He later returned to the apartment and handled the victim’s body “in an aggravating manner,” storing it for days before placing it in a suitcase.

Prosecutors had sought a conviction for murder, but the court ruled that Tolvanen did not intend or foresee the lethal outcome. He admitted to disturbing the peace of the grave and some acts of violence but denied using force capable of causing fatal injuries. The ruling is not yet legally binding.