Helsinki Court orders mental state exam for Rolf Nordmo

The Helsinki Court of Appeal has granted a request for a mental state examination for Rolf Nordmo, 68, who was previously convicted of the murder of 29-year-old Janne Puhakka. Nordmo, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment, argued that he was under an “acute mental disorder” at the time of the crime, describing the act as “unexplainable” and “incomprehensible” given his personal history.

The court noted that the killing, which occurred in Espoo, was “remarkably violent” and involved shooting the victim with a shotgun and striking him with the barrel of the weapon. While the prosecution and the victim's family opposed the examination, the court ruled that the evidence regarding Nordmo's psychological stress and the exceptional nature of the crime warranted a formal investigation into whether a mental disorder limited his ability to understand or regulate his behavior.

Nordmo admits to the killing but disputes the murder charge. The court's decision follows evidence suggesting his mental well-being had significantly declined leading up to the incident in late 2024.