Appeal court reviews biathlete Arttu Heikkinen’s accidental shooting conviction
Thursday 20th August 2026 on 08:01 in
Finland
The Rovaniemi Court of Appeal is reviewing biathlete Arttu Heikkinen’s conviction over the accidental shooting of a hunting companion, Yle reports. The hearing is taking place on Thursday.
The Kainuu District Court fined Heikkinen last August for aggravated negligent bodily injury and a hunting offence. He shot his hunting companion with a shotgun while hunting birds in September 2024 in Hyrynsalmi, in the Kainuu region.
The shot struck the man’s upper body and head, causing him to lose sight in one eye.
Heikkinen denied the charges in the district court and said the incident was an accident. He said his companion had left the agreed route and was hidden behind trees.
The district court found that Heikkinen should nevertheless have acted more carefully. It imposed 70 day-fines, amounting to 420 euros based on his income, and ordered him to pay the victim 6,800 euros in compensation.
Heikkinen has appealed to the Court of Appeal, seeking to have the conviction overturned and the compensation claim rejected. Yle is following the hearing at the court.
Conviction could end his career
If the conviction becomes final, Heikkinen could lose his gun permits.
According to the police website, a final conviction for aggravated negligent bodily injury always leads to the cancellation of gun permits. A final conviction for a basic hunting offence gives the police discretion, but can also result in the permits being revoked.
Losing his gun permits would make it impossible for Heikkinen to continue his career as a biathlete. He has not lost them yet because the conviction is not final.
In his appeal, Heikkinen said his livelihood depends entirely on income from sport and that his sporting career would end if the conviction stands. He also said the conviction and loss of his gun permits would derail his plans to work as a sports non-commissioned officer in the Finnish Defence Forces.
Heikkinen is one of Finland’s most promising biathletes. He has represented Finland at the biathlon world championships and won a junior world title and two junior world bronze medals.