Kotka man arrested on suspicion of murdering his spouse with bladed weapon

A 51-year-old man from Kotka has been remanded in custody on suspicion of murdering his wife in their home last weekend, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

The Kymenlaakso District Court ordered the detention on Wednesday morning. The suspect, who has no prior criminal record, is accused of killing a middle-aged woman in the Karhuvuori district of Kotka between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Police confirmed the victim was his spouse, and no third-party involvement is suspected.

Investigators believe a bladed weapon was used in the killing. Authorities are treating the case as murder based on the method and overall assessment of the crime.

The suspect, who has cooperated with police during questioning, has been active in local politics in Kotka. He ran in the most recent municipal elections but was not elected to the city council.

Southeastern Finland Police continue to investigate the background of the incident. Residents in the Karhuvuori neighbourhood had placed flags at half-mast in mourning earlier this week.