Man receives life sentence for Sastamala electric guitar murder

A Finnish court has sentenced 40-year-old Markus Vjatseslav Tervola to life in prison for murdering a man in Sastamala in August, Yle reports.

The crime took place at the victim’s home on August 1. Prosecutors said Tervola subjected him to prolonged and exceptionally severe violence, including punching and kicking him and striking him with an electric guitar. The blows were directed at the victim’s head and torso.

Prosecutors argued that the violence showed a determined intent to kill and caused the victim considerable pain and suffering because death did not come quickly. They also said the victim was unable to defend himself and had not provoked the violence.

Tervola denied the charge. He said he had been at the scene but was intoxicated and had passed out. The Pirkanmaa District Court said the prosecution’s account was proved by testimony from a forensic pathologist and evidence gathered during the technical investigation.

The court found the act particularly brutal and cruel and judged it aggravated overall, meeting the legal definition of murder. In addition to the life sentence, Tervola was stripped of his military rank and ordered to pay compensation to the victim’s relatives.

Tervola has been in custody since early August and will remain there. The verdict can be appealed.