Court reduces sentence for attempted murder of foster mother

A man who targeted his child’s foster mother with violent threats and attacks in Suonenjoki, North Savo, has had his conviction reduced from attempted murder to attempted manslaughter by the Eastern Finland Court of Appeals.

The case stemmed from the man’s dissatisfaction with social authorities. Between spring 2024 and early 2025, he repeatedly threatened and harassed the foster mother, culminating in a November 2024 incident where he rammed her car with his own, slashed her tire, and later sent messages vowing to kill her and burn her house down.

When police moved to arrest him at his Suonenjoki home, he fired an air pistol at officers and claimed to have explosives, triggering a standoff that ended when police subdued him with a K-9 unit.

The appeals court convicted him of 18 offenses, including violent resistance against officials, and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison—down from the district court’s eight-year term. Nearly all compensation orders were also reduced.

The prosecution and the foster mother opposed the reduction. The man, whose name is withheld to protect his minor child, maintains the charges should have been limited to traffic endangerment and illegal threats. He may seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.