Valkeakoski’s murder|Young age affects the length of the life sentence of the man convicted of Valkeakoski’s murder.
Prosecutor ajama’s manslaughter charge turning into a murder sentence demanded by the parties involved is exceptional, says the professor emeritus of criminal and procedural law Matti Tolvanen.
“As far as murder and murder are concerned, they are indeed isolated cases, but not unusual. It has happened before that the claim of the interested parties has sometimes been successful,” says Tolvanen.
19 years old Tuomas Sakari Matias Salminen was sentenced on Thursday in the district court For the murder of a 15-year-old girl. The murder took place in Valkeakoski in May. Salminen received a life sentence.
What was special about the verdict was that the prosecutor had sought punishment for manslaughter and the victim’s relatives for murder.
Salminen was also convicted of aggravated child rape and possession of an image depicting a child sexually.
Tolvanen according to, changes occur more often in milder crime titles.
“Although now, in drawing the line between abuse and aggravated abuse, it may be that the harsher position of the concerned parties wins. Or if the question is ordinary or gross negligence. They happen every now and then. In this demarcation in question, it is indeed very rare.”
Tolvanen reminds that in Finland, interested parties have a strong independent right to prosecute. They can demand a punishment other than the prosecution.
“It is not at all unusual for the prosecutor to accuse of murder, but the relatives demand punishment for murder. However, it rarely succeeds. It is not unusual for the prosecutor and the interested party to have a different opinion, but usually the prosecutor’s position wins.”
Does it matter the young age of Salminen, who was convicted of murder, to the length of his life sentence?
“It’s impressive. If you have committed a crime under the age of 21, you can get parole after serving ten years, while normally the minimum is 12 years.”
According to Tolvanen, however, few get out with the minimum time, but that Salmis has a good chance of parole after 12 years at the latest. Normally, those who receive a life sentence serve 14–15 years.
“He gets parole a couple of years earlier than the others. You can say that roughly.”
Helsinki the court of appeals can release a person sentenced to life on parole at their discretion.
The matter is influenced, for example, by whether the prisoner commits new crimes or whether he leads a drug-free life. A prisoner can also enter supervised probation six months earlier.
“Young age gives you a certain advantage in terms of enforcement, even if you don’t get a sentence,” says Tolvanen.
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