Court reduces sentence for Janakkala man convicted of killing partner

The Turku Court of Appeals has reduced the sentence of a Janakkala man convicted of killing his partner. Atte Aleks Patrik Ylitalo was sentenced to nine years in prison in January by the Kanta-Häme District Court for manslaughter, causing danger, and a serious firearm offense. He denied intentionally killing his partner but admitted to having acted with gross negligence when handling the weapon.

In the appeal, Ylitalo requested a reduced sentence, arguing that he had only one cartridge, the suitability of which he was unaware of, and that he didn’t understand how the firearm functioned. On August 30, the appeals court granted his request, lowering his sentence to 8 years and 3 months. One judge dissented, believing the act lacked intent and should have been classified as aggravated manslaughter rather than murder.

The judge noted that the likelihood of a shotgun round hitting a target at the documented shooting distance was much lower than a stray shot, indicating the absence of intent. The appeals court’s decision is not yet final; a request for leave to appeal can be submitted to the Supreme Court by October 29.

The fatal incident occurred in the upper level of a house in Tervakoski, Janakkala, on April 28, 2023. Ylitalo shot his partner in the face at a distance of about one to two meters using a shotgun, which he had acquired just hours earlier without a permit. The district court found that he had received minimal instruction on how to use the weapon, including where to insert the cartridge. Ylitalo reported having consumed drugs and alcohol on the day of the incident, leaving him in a confused state when he acquired and handled the firearm.