Judge says court is not concerned by online backlash

Makwan Amirkhani’s lawyer told the Western Uusimaa District Court he had faced a wave of online abuse after the previous hearing, prompting the judge to say the court was not concerned by social media discussion. Yle reported the exchange as the trial continued on Wednesday.

Lawyer Kari Uoti said he believed the way the defence had presented its case on Monday was “quite ordinary” and that no one in the courtroom had objected at the time. He said he had since become the target of a “huge” social media backlash and online bullying. Uoti also questioned whether he could continue representing Amirkhani.

Amirkhani, a mixed martial artist, is accused of forcing musician Mira Luoti to engage in a sexual act. He denies the charge. Prosecutors allege that he held Luoti, kissed her against her will, touched her over her clothes and masturbated in her presence. Amirkhani says the encounter involved consensual kissing and cuddling, and ended because he wanted it to.

The alleged events took place during filming of the TV series Julkkisselviytyjät, which aired on Nelonen in 2017 and was filmed in Nuuksio, Espoo, in summer 2016. Amirkhani and Luoti competed as a pair on the programme.

The trial began on Monday, when the court heard from Amirkhani and Luoti. Luoti attended Wednesday’s hearing with journalist Maria Veitola, who said she had come to support her. Witnesses from Warner Bros, Sony Music and Nelonen Media are also due to be heard.