Two men sentenced to long prison terms for fatal stabbing in central Helsinki

The Helsinki District Court has sentenced two men to lengthy prison terms for a fatal stabbing in the city centre earlier this year, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

Anton Nico Olavi Rantanen, born in 2001, received a sentence of 10 years and 9 months, while Niko Ilmari Matias Simpanen, born in 2004, was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

The incident began as a dispute in a karaoke bar in January, escalating into a stabbing on the street that left a 41-year-old man fatally wounded. The victim, born in 1983, later died in hospital from his injuries.

Both convicted men have extensive criminal records. Simpanen has prior convictions for assault, defamation, vandalism, and robbery, including a previous sentence for carrying a machete in public in Lahti. Court documents describe him as having difficulty controlling his impulsivity. Rantanen has dozens of prior convictions for violent crimes, drug offences, and property crimes.

The suspects fled the scene on foot but were later apprehended by police in the city centre. The crime, which occurred in a public area, had numerous witnesses whose testimonies assisted in the investigation.