Teen convicted of murdering man in Iitti plans to appeal

A 17-year-old boy convicted of murdering a 52-year-old man in Iitti when he was 15 has indicated that he will appeal, Yle reports. His lawyer confirmed the decision to Yle.

The Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced him on Tuesday to 10 years in prison for murder committed as a young person.

He was also ordered to pay about 18,500 euros in compensation, including 5,500 euros for suffering to the victim’s spouse.

The court found the boy criminally responsible for his actions. He was sent for a mental health examination in January at the prosecutor’s request, and the examination concluded that he was legally competent at the time of the crime.

The court ruled that the killing was carried out in a particularly brutal and cruel manner and was aggravated overall. According to a statement issued by the court, the defendant admitted to manslaughter committed by exceeding the limits of self-defence.

Based on the evidence, however, the court found that the incident did not involve self-defence, or an excessive use of self-defence, and that the defendant had acted intentionally, largely as described in the indictment.

The 52-year-old man and the 15-year-old boy met at a local bar on the day of the crime. They did not know each other beforehand. The killing took place at the victim’s home.

Yle is not reporting the convicted person’s name because he is a minor.