Finland’s court of appeal upholds sentence for man who fired at police in Huittinen

A Finnish appeals court has upheld a 3.5-year prison sentence for a man who shot at police officers in Huittinen, rejecting prosecutors’ demands to classify the act as attempted murder, reports Yle.

The Vaasa Court of Appeal ruled that Esa Mikael Lehtinen did not intend to kill officers when he fired two shots—a revolver and a shotgun—during an arrest attempt in September 2023. The court found the shots were not aimed directly at the police, nor was the act premeditated.

Police were called to the scene after a relative reported Lehtinen’s erratic behavior. He had been staying temporarily with the relative after destroying his own home while searching for hidden drugs. Upon entering the building, officers encountered gunfire but were unharmed. Lehtinen surrendered shortly afterward.

The appeals court largely maintained the district court’s original verdict, which included convictions for aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and firearms offenses. The prosecution had sought a harsher sentence under attempted murder charges, but the higher court dismissed this claim.

A further appeal to Finland’s Supreme Court remains possible.