Appeal court upholds life sentence for Lievestuore double murder

Yle reports that the Vaasa Court of Appeal has upheld Joosu Tomio Karppinen’s life sentence for murdering his father and his father’s partner in Lievestuore, Laukaa, in April 2025.

Karppinen, who is in his thirties, stabbed the victims several times in their apartment. He later dismembered their bodies and hid them in a root cellar.

The Central Finland District Court sentenced him to life imprisonment in February 2026 for two murders and two counts of violating the sanctity of the grave. Karppinen appealed, asking the court to find him guilty of manslaughter committed with diminished responsibility instead of murder.

A psychiatric assessment found that Karppinen had a psychotic disorder caused by substance use at the time of the killings. He had used alcohol and cannabis for at least a month.

The appeal court’s decision is not final. Karppinen can seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court by December 7.