Open image viewerAnneli Auer was suspected of killing Jukka S. Lahti, and was convicted twice in the district court, but was acquitted on appeal both times. Image: Jarno Kuusinen / AOPYle News26.12.2024 11:22•Updated 26.12.2024 16:06Police is reopening a notorious 2006 murder for investigation, according to MTV Uutiset. The Ulvila killing
has been transferred from the Southwest Finland Police to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
Lahti's wife Anneli Auer was suspected of killing him
Chief Inspector Olli Töyräs of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) says that the case files related to the homicide are now so expansive they would fill a car
MTV reports that police do not currently have any suspects in the killing
The NBI has investigated Auer and other possible suspects
"All possibilities are open," said Töyräs
Earlier in December, Finland's Supreme Court overturned and ordered a retrial in the sexual abuse crimes conviction of Anneli Auer
The case involved allegations by her children that Auer and her then-boyfriend
leading to criminal charges against the couple
James and Isabelle Gapstur of Duxbury are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter
Alicia is a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton
and earned her RN at Cape Cod Community College
Eric is a graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy and earned a degree in Marine Engineering
Alicia is a nurse at Gosnold Treatment Center in Falmouth
and Eric is the Chief Engineer at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers
The couple are planning a fall wedding on Cape Cod
We are announcing Nordec’s involvement in the Koivisto Bridge project together with main contractor Kreate Oy
The bridge project is located on Road VT11 between cities Pori and Ulvila in western Finland
This new infrastructure will be a 120-meter-long steel composite bridge with a deck width of 15.3 meters
The bridge will significantly enhance connectivity and traffic flow in the region
Nordec Group Oy press release 17.12.2024 at 14.00 EET UTC+3
Nordec and Kreate Unite to Build Koivisto Bridge
Nordec’s Scope: Fabrication and installation of steel structures
Nordec is proud to be a part of this significant project
contributing our expertise in the manufacturing and installation of the steel bridge structures
This collaboration with Kreate Oy underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure solutions and steel bridges
The Koivisto Bridge is set to become a landmark of modern engineering
enhancing the infrastructure and connectivity of the Pori-Ulvila region
Picture: https://vayla.fi/vt-11-koiviston-ja-pikkuhaaran-sillat
Nordec Group Oy is one of the leading suppliers of steel frame structures and façade solutions for construction projects in the Nordic countries with a strong position in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries of Poland
The company has long experience in the design
manufacture and installation of frame structures
The service offering includes single-storey buildings
Nordec's revenue in 2023 was EUR 329.2 million and adjusted EBITDA EUR 27.0 million
Further information about Nordec is available on the Company's website at www.nordec.com
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Kingsford senior Gavin Grondin (1) breaks around the right side of the line on a long gain as Negaunee’s Matthew Ulvila (22) gives chase on Friday at Flivver Field. (Terry Raiche photo)
KINGSFORD — Last season, Kingsford and Negaunee met on a football field for the first time in 29 years with the Miners eking out a 13-12 win in Negaunee.
On Friday night the teams squared off again, and this time it was the Flivvers who secured the hard-fought win, nipping Negaunee 29-27 on Homecoming Night at Flivver Field.
After the battle between two of the state’s top teams, the AP Division 5 eighth-ranked Flivvers stayed unbeaten and atop the WestPAC Copper Division standings, while the AP Division 6 fourth-ranked Miners fell to 3-1 and one game off the pace in the conference.
While all that is clear cut, the game certainly wasn’t. The Flivvers built a 29-8 lead midway through the third quarter before the Miners stormed back with three straight touchdowns, two on interception returns, to put a scare in the Flivvers and their followers.
Kingsford’s Thomas Maynard (6) hauls in a pass as Negaunee’s Weston Yesney (21) tries to chase him down on Friday at Flivver Field. (Terry Raiche photo)
For Kingsford senior standout Mason Tappy, all was well that ended well.
“I’m very ecstatic,” the linebacker said. “We came out blazing. We were set back a little bit in the second half, but we held ground.
“This is the hardest team we’ve played this year, but we did it for (injured junior lineman Wyatt) Shippy and we got our get-back.”
Tappy and his fellow seniors led the way with fullback Trenton VanOss rushing for two touchdowns, quarterback Nic Novara connecting with Thomas Maynard for a 22-yard scoring strike and Gavin Grondin returning a kickoff 86 yards for another score.
“We stressed all week that we had to make the plays,” Flivver coach Mark Novara said.
“We didn’t last year and we lost. We had to make them this year and we did and we got the ‘W.'”
Not that it was easy though it did appear that Kingsford would run away with the game midway through the third quarter. VanOss started the scoring with a 1-yard run at the 3:33 mark of the first quarter, and after Negaunee took an 8-7 lead on a 11-yard scamper by Broc Bonovetz, the Flivvers exploded for three straight touchdowns.
Grondin took the ensuing kickoff after the Negaunee score and burst through the middle of the Miner coverage for a touchdown and then added the 2-point conversion when he out jumped the Negaunee corner on a pass from Nic Novara.
Leading 15-8, the Flivvers turned away Negaunee’s fourth down attempt on its own 35-yard line. Senior linebacker Blake Flaminio led a host of Kingsford tacklers on a play that proved crucial in the final analysis.
Four plays later, Novara hit Maynard on a seam route that left Kingsford with a 22-8 halftime advantage after Sid Olson’s point after.
On the initial drive of the second half, the Flivvers appeared to be stopped when they faced a fourth-and-14 at their own 39. But instead, Coach Novara gave the go-head to special teams coach Joe Kriegl for a fake punt which turned out to be a perfect call with perfect execution.
Punter Jack Kriegl’s pass hit Grondin who had broken free up the middle for a 19-yard gain to the Negaunee 42-yard line.
Five plays later, VanOss ran in from the 10 and the Flivvers seemed in control with a 29-8 lead.
Kriegl’s pass was indicative of his versatile talents. The junior started at tailback, split out as a wide-out, took direct snaps for running yards during a couple of possessions, played safety, returned kicks and punted in the game.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Coach Novara said of Kriegl. “I’m pretty sure we could put him at center and he would do fine.
“He’s just one of those guys and the more ways we can get him the ball, the better we are.”
Seeming down and out after being forced to punt on the ensuing drive, the Miners turned the game on its head when a blitzing pass rusher hit Nic Novara’s arm when he went back to throw. Senior linebacker Hank Tincknell caught the fluttering pass and returned it for a touchdown that put Negaunee back into the contest with 3:59 to play in the third quarter.
“You’re up three scores and you’re feeling pretty good about yourself and then the turnover and boom, they’re right back in the game,” Coach Novara said. “We got lax on pass (protection) and a couple guys come off the edge and the ball’s up in the air.”
The Miners forced a Flivver punt on the next possession and then took just three plays to slice their gap even further when senior quarterback Ty Jacobson hit senior wide receiver Brady Mager for a 46-yard TD that pulled Negaunee within 29-20 on the final play of the third quarter.
Just four plays later, senior defensive back Ian Engstrom picked off a pass and ran it back 36 yards for another touchdown, and just like that, the Miners stood within two points with 9:39 still left to play.
The Miners then forced a punt before driving 35 yards to their own 46 with under 4 minutes remaining. But on fourth and two, Tappy came up with the decisive play as he broke through a double-team and sacked Jacobson to preserve his team’s fourth straight win to begin the 2024 campaign.
“Obviously, it’s fourth down and this is what we needed to win the game,” Tappy said. “And you just come in with everything you’ve got, man.”
After his team’s win, Coach Novara spoke of the twists and turns and the lessons learned.
“Invaluable lessons, right?” Novara began. “We’re still a work in progress. We need to keep getting better and better and not do those things that hurt ourselves.
“We’ve got a nice football team, but we’re not good enough to not play at a high level and beat good teams.”
And what was the final teaching point to his players before they began preparation for their next game at Calumet (2-2) on Friday, Sept. 27.
“Don’t get comfortable.”
IRON MOUNTAIN — Spring cleaning at the Iron Mountain City Park bocce courts will take place at 9 a.m. ...
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GOSHEN — More than 30 years ago, Goshen High School administrators began honoring the top six graduating seniors instead of the traditional top two. These high-achieving students held grade-point averages so close — merely hundredths of a point apart — that the district felt they all deserved to be honored for their accomplishments.
For the past four years, Goshen Honor Grads Alexandria Bouchard, Julia Episcopio, Conor O’Riordan, Daniel Solomon, Jaclyn Ulvila and Anna Zirilli immersed themselves in extra-curricular activities, volunteer work, and interscholastic athletics — all while dedicating themselves to achieving high academic standards.
After their graduation ceremony on Friday evening, they will head out into the world, taking with them their memories and lessons learned. But each can recall how their school chose to celebrate their accomplishments together.
Alexandria BouchardAlexandria will attend Princeton University, where she plans to major in chemical and biological engineering. She is the daughter of John and Jeanne Bouchard of Goshen.
Extra-curricular activities/athletics: Student Senate Treasurer, Student Government Treasurer, Varsity Club Vice President, National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, Leo Club, Softball, Basketball, and Soccer Captain.
Volunteer work/employment: Lobby greeter and nurse’s assistant at Orange Regional Medical Center, works at Tina’s Pizza Café and Restaurant in Chester.
Awards/honors: Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award, Time Warner Cable Scholar Athlete of the Week, Goshen Greats for AP Physics.
On feeling prepared for the future: “I think the faculty and administrators always had our best interests in mind and helped us maximize our opportunities. If Goshen High School has prepared me for one thing, it is how to balance school, athletics, extra-curricular activities, and sleep and still be able to succeed.”
Advice for aspiring Honor Grads: “As an underclassmen, it is difficult to see the ultimate goal because it’s so far in the future, but I think it’s important to keep doing what makes you happy and to work hard. Mostly, it’s important to keep your head up, because when the reward finally comes from all the hard work, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Julia EpiscopioJulia will attend Villanova University to study accounting. She then plans to attend business school to get her MBA. She is the daughter of Jennifer Hopkins and Leonard Episcopio in Goshen.
Extra-curricular activities/athletics: National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, Varsity Club Representative, Student Government Vice President, Student Senate President, Leo Club, Girl Scouts, Volleyball and Basketball Captain, Track.
Volunteer work/employment: Orange Regional Medical Center Guest Services, Mustard Seed Ministry Camp Sports Coordinator, bus girl at Limoncello, intern at Hudson Valley Investment Advisors.
Awards/Honors: Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Honor Roll, Junior National Young Leaders Conference.
On being an Honor Grad: “Being an honor grad is such a privilege. I have worked my heart out the past four years and it is great to achieve this title. It is surreal to be considered the top of my class.”
What she looks forward to most: “I look forward to meeting many new people throughout my life. I cannot wait to be a little fish in a big pond. These future experiences will hopefully be exciting and being able to study specific subjects that I enjoy learning!”
Conor O’RiordanConor will attend SUNY New Paltz with an undecided major. He is the son of Siobhan and Cornelius O’Riordan of Goshen.
Extra-curricular activities/athletics: Musical Stage Crew, Academic League, Student Government Representative, School Newspaper, Tennis, National Honor Society President, Interact Club Vice-President, Leo Club, St. John the Evangelist Youth Group.
Awards/honors: Certificates of Achievement in Biology, Earth Science, Algebra, English 10, and Intro to Latin, Silver Medal for Participation in the National Latin Exam.
Favorite high school memories: “My time spent working on stage crew for the production of The Sound of Music during my junior year was some of the best weeks of my life. The feeling of running on stage to receive the crowd’s recognition is something everyone should experience at least once in their life.”
Advice for aspiring Honor Grads: “Never waste a period. This gives you extra time for time-consuming activities, such sports or play productions, without the stress of having to do homework late at night.”
Daniel SolomonDaniel will attend Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where he’ll major in industrial and labor relations. While considering a career in law, Daniel plans for a career in baseball operations with the goal of becoming the general manager of a major league baseball team. He is the son of Ellen and Stephen Solomon of Goshen.
Extra-curricular activities/athletics: Mock Trial Co-President/Co-Treasurer,National Honor Society, Vice President, World Language Honor Society, Cross Country.
Volunteer work/employment: Intern at Blustein, Shapiro, Rich and Barone LLP, volunteer at Middletown soup kitchen, helps lead Jewish services at Glen Arden.
Awards/honors: AP Scholar with Honor, Mock Trial Certificate of Citizenship, Honor Roll, Certificates of Achievement for English 9 Honors, Geometry Honors, Pre-calculus Honors, AP US History and Advanced Latin, Cross Country Varsity Letter, Summa Cum Laude in National Latin Exam.
Favorite high school memory: “Winning the regional title in Mock Trial was pretty special. It’s probably my proudest high school achievement, and I’ll always remember this team and the program as a whole.”
Advice for aspiring Honor Grads: “If being an Honor Grad is something you seek out, then you’re not treating academics properly. Hard work is important. Getting good grades is important. But try to find that passion that makes you want to learn. If you do, then that will carry over.”
Jaclyn UlvilaJaclyn will attend The University of Delaware with an undecided major but is leaning toward a career in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math). She is the daughter of Patricia and Richard Ulvila of New Hampton.
Extra-curricular activities/athletics: National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, Football, Basketball and Competition Cheerleading Captain, CDA Xtreme.
Volunteerism/employment: Jewish Family Services, Pet’s Alive, Religious Education classes for St. Joseph’s Church.
Awards/honors: Certificate of Honorable Merit on the National Latin Examination, Scholastic Art and Writing Award, Gold Key in Hudson Valley Art Awards, AP Scholar Award, Certificate of Achievement for French II and Intro to Latin, Certificate of Achievement for Progress in Biology Honors.
How it feels to be an Honor Grad: “It is an incredible feeling. I walked into freshman year admiring the Honor Grads and all the decorated graduates and was determined to become one. It was not an easy journey but I am proud to be one of the 2015 Honor Grads.”
On feeling prepared for the future: “Goshen High School has provided me with the environment to discover who I am. Whether it was a teacher to whom I could talk or a sport or activity I could participate in, GHS has given me great opportunities and memories to take with me wherever I go. It has become a foundation from which I can now build.”
Anna ZirilliAnna will attend Houghton College with plans to attain dual certification in special education and general education for grades 1-6, as well as extensions in early education and middle grades in order to teach a wide-range of subjects and levels in foreign countries. She is the daughter of David and Rachel Zirilli of Campbell Hall.
Extra-curricular activities/athletics: National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society Treasurer, Interact Club Treasurer, See You at the Pole Organizer at Goshen High School, Volleyball Captain.
Volunteer work/employment: Internship at Goshen Intermediate School, Orange Classic 10k and 5k volunteer, Middletown Warming Station, Montgomery Food Pantry, Vacation Bible School Leader, Mission Trip to Rosarito, Mexico, Still Waters Ministries of Peace, Y2Kids Clergy Representative, Goshen Youth Volleyball Instructor, Sunday School Teacher, Little League Concessions, Babysitter.
Awards/honors: Varsity Scholar-Athlete Award, President’s Education Awards Program, Excellence Award in Math, Science, and English, Leadership Award for Volleyball, Certificate of Achievement in Global History 9 and Spanish 3, Award of Appreciation for Goshen High School Blood Drives, Certificate of Award in Spanish IV and AP Calculus, Varsity Letter, Academic Letter.
On her favorite high school memories: “The conversations where I learned something extraordinary about myself, another person, or about life. The small, seemingly unimportant, moments are often the most memorable later on.”
On what she looks forward to in the future: “I am so excited to go to London in the second semester of my freshman year and to play volleyball in the fall.”
the family have been the subject of several criminal investigations over the past year
including suspicions of aggravated rape and sexual offences
Open image viewerPolice suspect the children were abducted from a playground in the town of Ulvila in southwest Finland on 1 July
Image: Soila Ojanen / YleYle News10.7.2024 12:14A Finnish couple have been detained abroad on suspicion of kidnapping their own three children
Due to the ongoing investigation and the sensitive nature of the case
Finnish police have declined to reveal which country the suspects and their teenage children are in
The three children are believed to have been abducted from a playground in the town of Ulvila
A court in the Satakunta region remanded the couple into custody in absentia on 4 July
on charges of kidnapping and aggravated deprivation of liberty
Open image viewerThe children are believed to have been taken from a playground in Ulvila
Image: Jouni Koutonen / YleAccording to Yle's information
the family have been the subject of multiple criminal investigations over the past year
The mother of the family is suspected of several aggravated rapes
while newspaper Iltalehti has reported that the father is facing charges of aggravated sexual offences
Yle understands that both cases are currently being reviewed by prosecutors following the completion of police investigations
documents seen by Yle indicate that one of the couple's children is the suspected victim in a criminal case in which only one of the parents is a suspect
This suspected crime was also brought to the attention of the authorities last year
but so far the case has not been passed on to prosecutors for consideration
Iltalehti interviewedOpens an external website the father over the phone earlier this week
and he confirmed that the family was currently abroad
Helsingin Sanomat has meanwhile reportedOpens an external website that the three children have been placed outside the family home for a long period of time
but last spring the parents took the children to the Helsinki area without permission
the mother of the family has previously run at least one daycare centre in a small town in southern Finland
Yle has seen court documents which revealed that the woman is a plaintiff in a case pending in Kanta-Häme District Court over the closure of her daycare centre operations
The defendant in the case is the municipality where the daycare centre was located
The mother of the family — who is herself facing charges of aggravated rape — has demanded compensation from the municipality amounting to 150,000 euros
The municipality has denied any wrongdoing
Based on the current available information
it is understood that the municipality removed the daycare centre from its list of approved service providers at the beginning of 2022
It justified the decision on the basis that the daycare centre had been uncooperative with educational authorities
and that there had been an incident between workers while the daycare centre was open
An assessment carried out by the municipality concluded that conditions at the daycare centre endangered customer safety
the couple at the centre of the child abduction case set up a daycare company in Helsinki last year
but Yle understands the centre has not started operating
GOSHEN — Students in Christina Pahucki's Studio Art Class at C.J
Hooker Middle School in Goshen were recently recognized for their exemplary work by the Regional Scholastic Art Awards Competition
Each student — 17 in all — won at least one award in the competition
Gold Key and Silver Key Award winners will have their work displayed at Orange-Ulster BOCES
"Perched Art"Colin Canaperi for his photograph
"Emmett's Fury"Danielle Farr for her ceramics and glass
"Splitsville"Melissa Frey for her digital art
"Running Out of Time" and "Barron," drawings
"The Beast," "Building Up," "Past Hope," "Passed Out," "Chillin'," "Bare Foot" and "Strummin'"Eugene Iozzino for his paintings
"Any Last Words" and "Out of Reach"Monis Ahsan for his ceramics and glass
"Composition"Jaclyn Ulvila for her paintings
"Wind Swept" and "Walking Over," and drawing
"Butterfly"Jessica Iazzetti for her drawing
"Spiders" and "Clowns"Caleigh Loughran for her drawing
"Hardshoe"Caroline Madura for her digital art
"Earth Weighing Me Down"Micaela Robinson for her drawing
Any Card"Colin Canaperi for his photograph
"A Gamer's Dream"Haley Dunlavey for her painting
"Big Ben" and "Sea Lion"Melissa Frey for her painting
"Running Out of Time"Emma Cummings for her drawing
"Putting Pieces Together," and photographs
"The Game" and "Summer"Eugene Iozzino for his drawing
"Autumn in Goshen"Erica Santiago for her paintings
"Lilly," "Island Paradise" and "What's Cooking?"Blaine Madison for his painting
the Eccentrics of My Mind"Jaclyn Ulvila for her painting
"Autumn in the Park"Erica Corrado for her paintings
"Dance" and "Autumn Reflections"AnnaLivia McCarthy for her painting
"Doodle Time"Jessica Iazzeti for her painting
"Vanity Fair"Samantha VandenBurg for her painting
"Forever Crying"Caleigh Loughran for her paintings
"Irish Dancer" and "Summer Sky"Micaela Robinson for her paintings
"Busted" and "Painting With Sunny"Colin Canaperi for his photographs
"Winter Sun" and "Cloudy Day," and drawing
"Opossum" by Emma Cummings won a Gold Key Award
"Taylor Lautner," a drawing by Erica Santiago
Hingham High's Caroline Doherty has been voted the High School Girls Hockey Player of the Week
Doherty tallied 3 goals to go with an assist
Don't forget to vote in our other player of the week polls below:
More: Big games and bigger shots: Vote for the High School Boys Basketball Player of the Week
More: Shaq-like stat line: Vote for the High School Girls Basketball Player of the Week
More: Brick-wall goalies and more: Vote for the High School Boys Hockey Player of the Week
Norwell: The Clippers pulled a 4-0 upset over Hingham thanks to big games from this duo
McDonald scored two goals and added an assist while Nicole Prescott stopped 25 shots in a shutout effort.
More: Years after helping start program, Tori Dinger back home leading Norwell girls hockey team
scoring the winning goal in extra time in a 2-1 triumph over Walpole.
Quincy/North Quincy: O'Driscoll scored a hat trick in an 8-6 win over Plymouth North/Plymouth South
More: Quincy/North Quincy girls hockey star Maggie Lynch about to rewrite program's record book
Ava Larkin, Soph., Notre Dame Academy: Larkin posted a shutout in a 2-0 win over Malden Catholic.
Maya Battista, Jr., Canton: Battista tallied an overtime-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over King Philip. That win gave the Bulldogs sole possession of the Hockomock League title.
Lily Ulvila, Sr., Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake: Ulvila scored 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in a win over Old Rochester Regional.
Julia Flynn, Fr., Franklin: Flynn scored four goals as the Panthers (5-6-3, 2-2 Hockomock) rolled past Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 5-2. Flynn has 11 goals in her past three games.
Lauren O’Malley, Fr, Algonquin co-op: O’Malley recorded a hat trick for her first three varsity goals as Algonquin (10-1-2) beat Leominster (3-8) at Marlborough’s New England Sports Center.
Colleen Quirk, Sr., Natick: Quirk scored three goals and recorded two assists as the Redhawks (8-5-2) blanked Walpole, 7-0.
One vote is allowed per hour. Voting closes on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 at noon. Emailed votes will not be counted. Send future nominations to cmcdaniel@wickedlocal.com.
GOSHEN — Principal Kurtis Kotes recently honored several Goshen High School students who are the recipients of the following awards:
Outstanding Performance in the National Latin Exam — Awarded by the American Classical League, students are recognized for their high scores on the National Latin Exam as either summa cum laude, maxima cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude.
Recipients are: Monis Ahsan, Kabir Ai-Tariq, Layla Gordon, Mark Laaninen, Abigail Marone, AnnaLivia McCarthy, Kevin O'Brien, Meaghan Silsby, Daniel Solomon, Jaclyn Ulvila.
S cholarship for Academic Excellence — High achieving students received a $500 scholarship and letter of recognition from John B. King, Jr., Commissioner of Education.
Recipients are: Margaret Conley, Aaron Goyzueta, Nicole Irace, Zachary Keuerleber, Nicholas Whittel, Michael Wolek.
Sojourner Truth Awards — The Sojourner Truth Awards honors students in grades 6-12 who have excelled in the areas of athletics, citizenship, creative arts, diversity, English language arts, foreign languages, perseverance/effort, sciences and technology. In addition to being recognized for her achievements in English language arts, sophomore Emily Horrego was the recipient of a $2,500 scholarship to SUNY Orange. She is one of only four students to receive such recognition.
Recipients are: Monis Ahsan, Alexis Bello, Braxton Clark, Seriah Durandisse, Alyssa Hernandez, Emily Horrego, Megha Kanabar, Grace McMurrin, Jason Ramirez, Kenneth Shelton, Jada Stewart, Nakeem Thorpe, Cristal Vasquez.
after Auer's children retracted sexual abuse allegations they now say were fabricated
Open image viewerFile photo of Anneli Auer in 2016
Image: Jarno Kuusinen / AOPYle News5.12.2024 12:15Finland's Supreme Court has overturned and ordered a retrial in the sexual abuse crimes conviction of Anneli Auer
Auer first made headlines after her husband was killed in the home they shared in Ulvila on a night in December 2006
The ensuing criminal case evolved into a sprawling
years-long legal battle that eventually resulted in an appeal court finding Auer not guilty of killing her husband
Auer was handed a life sentence in 2009 for her husband's killing, but an appeal court found her not guilty of the crime in 2015
Auer's legal troubles did not end there
due to three of her four children alleging that her then-boyfriend Jens Kukka and Auer herself had sexually abused them
sparking a criminal case against the couple
she was handed and served a 7.5-year sentence while her former boyfriend received a 10-year sentence for sexual abuse and other violent crimes
Last year, the All Points North podcast explored the case of Anneli Auer and the 'crime of the century'
However, her now-adult children have since recanted the criminal accusations. Last year, Auer said she wanted her conviction annulled, due to the children retracting their testimony.
In the new testimony, Auer's children alleged they had been pressured by their foster parents to fabricate crimes that did not actually take place. The children were placed into the care of a relative's family in 2009, after their mother was sent to prison.
In its decision to overturn the sex abuse conviction, the Supreme Court said the case should be retried. The new trial is due to be held at Southwest Finland District Court.
The Supreme Court said it was unlikely the original verdict would change based on the children's new testimony. But it noted there were compelling reasons to re-examine whether Auer and Kukka were guilty.
The decision means that nearly two decades of highly publicised legal battles are not over for Auer.
Little information about the sex abuse allegations have been made public, due to the sealing of court documents. The Supreme Court did not issue an order to open those documents, so they remain confidential.
GOSHEN — Knowledge is essential, of course, but Goshen's six honor graduates — Alexandria Anne Bouchard, Julia Anne Episcopio, Conor Niall O’Riordan, Daniel Isaac Solomon, Jaclyn Jean Ulvila, and Anna Rachel Zirilli — stressed the primacy of love and caring in their lives.
It was these special ingredients, from family, friends, and fellow students, that formed the foundation of their accomplishment at Goshen High School over the past four years.
High school Principal Kurtis Kotes built on this theme in his address to the graduates. He first asked them to ponder what each “hopes to accomplish in a global community as they run the race to finish together.” But most of all, he said, the graduates should focus on the good they will do for others in the course of their lives, by taking action that is deliberate and meaningful.
He set the example with smiles for junior Michael Sager, who attended in honor of his sister, Megan Sager, who died in 2013 at age 16. Members of the Class of 2015 all made contributions to the basket given to Michael near the conclusion of the ceremony.
Graduation was held Friday, June 26, at the Historic Track. In a break from prior years, scholarships and awards were presented in a separate ceremony that preceded the main graduation ceremony. The Goshen High School Varsity Choir and Jazz Voices sang Rodgers and Hammerstein’s "You’ll Never Walk Alone" in an exemplary performance.
Image: Timo Korhonen / AOPYle News23.1.2024 12:19Finland's Prosecutor General opposes overturning the sexual offense convictions for Anneli Auer and Jens Kukka
Widow Anneli Auer was twice convicted, and then acquitted, of killing her husband in a case known as the Ulvila homicide
which has been in and out of the headlines in Finland for nearly 20 years
Lurid tales of satanic sexual abuse were told by three of her four children
to eventually be convicted on those charges
Last year, Auer said she wanted her conviction annulled after her children said they wished to retract their testimony
Prosecutor General Ari-Pekka Koivisto said he opposes Auer and Kukka's requests to have their sexual abuse convictions overturned
After conducting an additional investigation into the matter
Koivisto recommended rejecting their request
The Supreme Court is now handling Auer and Kukka's appeal to overturn the convictions
The court is also set to decide on publicising materials related to the case
records which have up until now been kept from public view
Auer was accused of murdering her husband in the so-called Ulvila murder case
The All Points North podcast has explored one of Finland's grisliest murder cases
Listen to the podcast using the embedded player below, via Yle Areena, or on SpotifyOpens an external website
SUPERIOR — Team Berthiuame won the first round by one-point
They would go on to outscore Team Phillips 99-71 throughout the rest of the match on April 20 to win 4-1 by a total score of 132-104
The match pitted eight of the top players from the Superior Trailblazers Pool League in a four-on-four match
with each player playing one game against one member of the other team
The event was scored by rounds following the normal format that the league plays on Thursday nights from October to April
The teams split wins 2-2 in round one with Brett Ulvila and Rick Phillips winning games for Team Phillips and Mike Walkowiak and Al Berthiaume winning games for Team Berthiaume
Seth Pennington and Joe Prigge joined Walkowiak and Berthiaume in the win column
Prigge completed the only earned run out of the game when he defeated Phillips 10-1
Team Phillips made a push in round three as Matt Deragon defeated Pennington 10-3
Jim Jardine defeated Prigge 10-4 and Phillips defeated Walkowiak 10-6
Teams Phillips won the round 32-23 and closed the gap on total points to 18
Team Phillips would fall short as Pennington and Prigge defeated Ulvila and Deragon to clinch the match for Team Berthiaume
Berthiaume went undefeated on the evening outscoring his opponents by 24-points
He became the second player to be named a Team Captain more than once and became the third player ever to go undefeated in the match
Phillips became the Match’s All-Time leading scorer as he surpassed Tom Wasserman’s number of 83
Wasserman was elected to participate in the match
but unfortunately lost his battle with cancer in February
A memorial was set up in his honor table-side during the match and his family members Dorraine Wasserman (wife)
Patricia Soliday (sister) and Melissa Riedasch (niece) accepted his match award
Superior High School student Belle Modeen sang the National Anthem prior to the opening game
The event was livestreamed and is available for viewing anytime on the Trailblazers Facebook page
HELSINKI FINLAND
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Inspector Juha Joutsenlahti has been handed an 80-day fine over his actions as the officer in charge of the investigation into the so-called Ulvila murder in 2006—2008
the District Court of Satakunta found Joutsenlahti guilty of abuse of public office
viewing that he had infringed the presumption of innocence
a central principle of the Finnish criminal law system
The sentence is related to the two separate line-ups that led to the unwarranted detention of an actor from Pori in 2007
Joutsenlahti had sent a photo of the actor in a hooded sweatshirt to Anneli Auer
Joutsenlahti then organised an identification parade regardless of rules stipulating that no parade shall be organised after a photo line-up
the court regarded Joutsenlahti's failure to disclose in court the fact that he had sent the photo to Auer as reproachable
The actor was detained on suspicion of the homicide after being identified as the possible perpetrator by Auer
he was held in detention for a week before it was proved that he could not have committed the homicide
was later identified as the primary suspect in the investigation and sentenced to life imprisonment by the District Court of Satakunta last December
The court proceedings are set to continue at the Vaasa Court of Appeal later this year
Joutsenlahti admitted in court to having made a mistake but insisted that his actions were not deliberate but rather caused by his busy schedule
He thereby rejected all criminal accusations
The actor was deemed entitled to recover a total of some 2,000 euros in compensation from Joutsenlahti and the state
reveals that he has previously been granted 3,500 euros in compensation for his unwarranted detention
Joutsenlahti will remain suspended from his official duties until the Lounais-Suomi Police Department has weighed up the ruling and waited for it to come into force
“The matter will be re-evaluated after that.”
Minna Passi – HSAleksi Teivainen – HT© HELSINGIN SANOMATPhoto: Kalle Parkkinen / Lehtikuva
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a woman who was found not guilty of her husband's murder in 2006
Earlier this year an Appeal Court overturned a guilty verdict handed down by a lower court in 2013
The Supreme Court’s ruling brings to a close one of the country’s most convoluted and longest-running murder cases
Open image viewerAnneli Auer poistumassa tauolle Porin käräjäoikeudesta elokuussa 2013
Image: Roni Rekomaa / Lehtikuva18.12.2015 11:56•Updated 18.12.2015 11:56The Supreme Court has decided to reject all applications to appeal the not guilty ruling handed down to Anneli Auer by the Vaasa Court of Appeal earlier this year
Auer had been on trial for murdering her husband
Applications for leave to appeal had been filed by district prosecutors
Auer’s three youngest children and the brother of the victim
the Vaasa Court of Appeal ruled that the burden of proof fell to the prosecutor when it came to murder or manslaughter
while Auer had no responsibility to prove her innocence
or to contribute towards any investigation to determine her guilt
The Supreme Court offered no reasoning for its decision
and the ruling brings final closure to one of Finland’s most closely-followed murder trials
It also means that Auer – who was released during the summer after serving a seven and a half year sentence for child abuse in an unrelated case – is now finally a free woman
February’s retrial meant was the second time the case was heard in the Appeal Courts
a District Court handed Auer a life sentence for killing her husband
however Auer sought to overturn the sentence in the Court of Appeal
In July 2011 the higher court dropped the charges against Auer due to insufficient evidence
which sent it back to the lower Court after prosecutors presented new evidence
This was related to the recording of her call to emergency services shortly after Lahti's stabbing
Prosecutors said that Auer's voice could be heard simultaneously speaking on the phone and in the background near the victim
and that this proves that she had been playing a previously-recorded tape in the background when she made the call
In spite of the formal closure of the docket by the Supreme Court
The drama turned on Auer’s 51-year-old husband
who was killed in the family home near Pori
Auer made a call to emergency services and spoke of an unknown intruder who had attacked her husband and also injured her
However investigators looking for the intruder failed to track down the suspect – even after hundreds of DNA tests and the appointment of two new lead investigators
Suspicion first began to centre on Auer in 2009 and she was arrested on suspicion of murder in autumn of that year
The case also captured headlines as police investigators came in for heavy criticism over their handling of the preliminary investigation
Prosecutors and court officials accused the police of bungling the investigation by conducting inadequate forensic examinations of the crime scene
then-Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen ordered ministry officials and police top brass to review preliminary investigation processes to prevent further repeats of the investigative fumbles
Auer's lawyer says she will seek damages for being wrongfully accused
which could run into the hundreds of thousands of euros
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Statements by the suspect’s children paint two entirely distinct pictures of the family
SOME of the techniques used when interviewing the children of murder suspect Anneli Auer were coercive and persuasive
argued defence counsel Juha Manner as hearings in the Ulvila murder trial continued at the District Court of Satakunta on 11 September
the oldest child insists in seven recorded interviews that she saw a third party leave the house through the window on the night her father was killed
In an interview conducted by a forensic psychologist three years after the homicide
the child described the life of her family as normal: Her parents did not argue more than usual and divided the housework
Her father worked long hours but took the children to a playground on his days off
Despite also being asked repeatedly about the marital troubles her parents allegedly had
she told that she does not remember her parents talking about a divorce
“We had a nice family before father died,” she said
In classified transcriptions of interviews obtained by Helsingin Sanomat
the family’s second-oldest child paints an altogether different picture
several Finnish dailies reported that the transcriptions indicate that Auer had prepared for the murder and been pleased for committing ‘the perfect crime’
recorded by the children’s foster parents in 2011
Soila Ojanen – STTLEHTIKUVA / MARTTI KAINULAINEN0
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By Frances Ruth HarrisGOSHEN — Matt Gomes wanted to honor Mujtabah Lodhi
the best friend he lost in an act of horrific violence in 2013
Mush — as Mujtabah was known to those who knew and loved him — died at the age of 13 at the hands of his father
who also killed his wife and younger son before killing himself
called "Swish for Mush," was dedicated in his honor on Feb
Matt wanted closure for himself and those who still missed their dear friend
assistant principal and director of athletics
A bake sale and 50/50 raffle were held during the game
with many baked goods items completely selling out
Youth Educator Gen Herman of Safe Homes of Orange County was also on hand
Matt wants people to know that domestic violence is real
always had broad smiles to share with everyone they met
and Matt said was always eager to hear a new one from his friend
They played sports and computer games together
Matt is starting a scholarship fund in Mush's name
He said he wanted to do something so that no one will ever forget Mush's name
and other contributions and donations will form the foundation of The Mujtaba Lodhi Scholarship Fund
make checks out to The Mujtaba Lodhi Scholarship Fund
For more information about the fund call Cheryl at 845-294 9742
The court is expected to rule on the disclosure of new evidence today
ANNELI AUER appeared before the District Court of Satakunta on 7 June as the court prepared to re-consider the murder charges brought against her for the death of her husband
Auer has contested all criminal allegations throughout the perpetuating court proceedings
insisting that the murder in the family's home in Ulvila
The case was consigned back to the district court last autumn by the Supreme Court due to the amount of new evidence raised by district prosecutors Jarmo Valkama and Kalle Kulmala
After a three-year pre-trial investigation
Auer was sentenced to life imprisonment by the district court in 2010
was overturned by the Vaasa Court of Appeal a year later
“We were rather clueless as to the motive for the act,” Valkama said referring to the trial in 2010
SOILA OJANEN – STTLEHTIKUVA / HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA
Sounds described by the defendant’s child would be indiscernible to most people
CRACKS were exposed in the prosecutor’s case in Ulvila murder trial last week as the defence summoned Pekka Santtila
a professor of applied psychology at Åbo Akademi University
to scrutinise the evidence presented in the trial
Santtila questioned both the statements of murder suspect Anneli Auer’s second-oldest child and psychologists’ interpretations of Auer’s demeanour in a recorded emergency call
who was seven years old at the time of the homicide
has described the events of the night in December 2006 on the basis of what he heard through his bedroom door
He has claimed to have heard someone grab a knife
break a window and open the back door and the freezer
cannot be based on the child’s observations but may have been conceived by the child alone or as a result of interaction with other children and adults
“It seems like his story is impossible,” the professor summarised
Santtila conducted a study in which 33 7-year-old children and 40 adults were asked to identify 16 sounds in a recording simulating the soundscape allegedly heard by the child
the subjects fared poorly in the trial: the children were only able to identify the sound of a door opening and closing
it is impossible to understand the complex chain of events described by [Auer’s] child,” Santtila concluded
Mia Peltola – STTLEHTIKUVA / JUSSI PARTANEN
Medway/Ashland's Julia Bern has been voted the High School Girls Hockey Player of the Week
picked a perfect time to score her first varsity goal
Her goal helped spark a 3-1 upset over Westwood
which was Medway/Ashland's first win over the Wolverines in four years
Canton: Khoury recorded a hat trick in a 5-2 win over Walpole
More: Five reasons to subscribe to our sports newsletter
Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake: Ulvila scored a hat trick and added an assist in a 5-0 win over Marshfield
McCarthy scored two points to finish with 101 career points
Hanover: Long scored a hat trick in a 7-2 win over Scituate to clinch a tournament spot in the last game of the regular season
Notre Dame Academy: In a battle of two of the top teams in Div
Prendergast posted a shutout in a 2-0 win over St
Duxbury: Abban tallied an overtime winner in a 3-2 victory over Braintree
recorded a hat trick as Medway/Ashland/Holliston/BVT (13-6-1) earned the 5-0 win over Marshfield to win the Inclusion Cup championship in Framingham.
earned her second shutout of the season in net as the Medway/Ashland/Holliston/BVT co-op team (12-6-1) blanked Leominster
Framingham: The junior forward scored two goals and added an assist as the Flyers (8-7-5) defeated Leominster
in the Inclusion Cup consolation game to earn their first tournament bid since 2014
Send future nominations to cmcdaniel@wickedlocal.com
THE Ulvila murder case was consigned back to the District Court of Satakunta by the Supreme Court
after both the prosecution and defence presented new evidence in the perpetuating trial
the new evidence must be considered by more than one instance of courts
was a disappointment to the defence lawyer
who was hoping for a Supreme Court decision
“Of course it is possible to take the case to the court of appeal and petition for a leave of appeal from the Supreme Court,” Manner states
is of the opinion that the case has already prolonged excessively for the accused
whose husband was murdered six years ago this December
a professor of criminal and procedural law
meanwhile believes the decision to re-consider the case in the district court was correct
“Had the new evidence been considered only by the Supreme Court
it would have compromised the legal protection of the suspect
she would not have been able to appeal,” Frände says
estimating that re-processing the case in the various instances of court will take two to three years
The developments are only the most recent twist in the most peculiar criminal investigation in history of crime in Finland
characterised as “the case of the century” by Frände
Anneli Auer was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010 for the murder of her husband in late 2006 by the District Court of Satakunta
argued that the murder was committed by an outside intruder
and eventually the murder charges were dismissed by the Vaasa Court of Appeal
is currently serving a seven-year jail term for several sex and violent crimes
which include aggravated rape and aggravated child sexual abuse
Both suspects have denied all charges in the sex crimes case and have filed a leave of appeal to the Supreme Court
ALEKSI TEIVAINEN – HTSTTLEHTIKUVA / MIKKO STIG
DNA recovered at the scene of a 2006 murder in Ulvila has been identified
the DNA belongs to a National Bureau of Investigation police officer
Image: Yle1.7.2013 19:26•Updated 6.7.2013 10:13The Ulvila murder case
where Anneli Auer stands again accused of murdering her husband in late 2006
as it was revealed that DNA recovered at the crime scene belonged to a police investigator
Yle could not yet confirm if the police investigator had worked on the Ulvila case
the officer in charge of the investigation
Auer’s attorney Juha Manner was also tight-lipped concerning the new information
The police will most likely have to carry out more investigation because of the finding
before a new trial on the case begins in August
Auer was previously convicted of the murder
the case was re-opened because of new evidence (predating the DNA finding)
bringing Auer back to court in August to once again face murder charges
The preliminary investigation in the case was heavily influenced by Auer’s account of an unknown man breaking into the family house
The focus shifted more onto Auer herself only when the head of the investigation changed in 2009
the defence has highlighted factors supporting the possibility of an outside murderer
One District Court judge would have acquitted Auer on the basis of the foreign DNA found on a log
The Court of Appeal acquittal was also heavily influenced by the foreign DNA and the other murder weapon
Ruling out an outside party in the crime was a central reason given by the prosecutor when appealing to the High Court for a retrial permit
The new evidence will make the task of the defence more difficult
estimates procedural law Professor Mikko Vuorenpää
“Clearly this new information can be seen as harmful for the defence
as their most important evidence turns out to be practically irrelevant
Anneli Auer can no longer be proved innocent based on this evidence,” Vuorenpää commented
it is highly unusual that such important new information regarding the credibility of evidence emerges so late on in the investigation and court proceedings
STT30.5.2023 14:01Finland's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the contents of Anneli Auer's sentence annulment application will remain mostly sealed
Auer first came to public prominence when she became a suspect after her husband
was killed at their family home in Ulvila in December 2006
After years of twists and turns in what has been dubbed Finland's 'crime of the century', the Court of Appeal found Auer not guilty of murder in 2015 following two separate convictions
lurid tales of satanic sexual abuse were told by three of her four children
and Auer and her then-boyfriend were convicted on those charges
Her children have since stated that they want to retract their testimony
and Auer has sought to have that conviction annulled
This led to the Supreme Court's ruling on Tuesday that Auer and her ex-boyfriend's applications to have their sexual and violent crime convictions annulled should remain sealed
Evidence and testimony that was kept secret in the past will continue to remain confidential for the time being
will be made partly available to the public
The Supreme Court added that the confidentiality orders of previous judgments by lower courts can only be considered as the high court considers the annulment of earlier rulings
In their conviction annulment applications
Auer and her former boyfriend have asked that all related documents would be made public
Yle News' All Points North podcast examined the Ulvila homicide in March
All Points North: Anneli Auer and the Ulvila homicideWould you like a roundup of the week's top stories in your inbox every Thursday? Then sign up to receive our weekly email
On March 11th, after six months of hard work from the University of Helsinki's Biosphere incubator's teams developing their solutions
and validating their ideas in the market – all done with guidance from their mentors and the programme’s organisers and visiting experts – the teams celebrated the conclusion of this significant step in their journeys with the programme’s finale: the Biosphere 2 demo day
“Thank you all for coming to this demo day,” said Biosphere Programme Manager Pedro Gensini to the assembled teams
“It’s been a lovely journey with these teams,” Gensini continued
all of them have managed to take important steps forward on the long but rewarding journey of entrepreneurship
and I can’t wait for you all to see what they will be presenting to you tonight.”
and the opportunity to pitch the next day to a visiting international VC
the team is leveraging Ren’s research and working on a solution to help forest owners monitor the health of their holdings and fight encroaching pathogens
who developed an alternative to firewood using used coffee grounds
“I’m super happy with my team!” Glod exclaimed
before continuing: “They made really good progress during Biosphere
and I’m looking forward to seeing where they go from now.”
the jury returned with one clear winner for the competition
judge and mentor Pinho prefaced the jury’s decision with encouragement to the whole Biosphere cohort
and you should all be proud,” he said with genuine kindness in his tone
“However, only one team can be chosen as the winner, and for us, the winning team was innovative: it tried to be future proof with a good strategy. It also displayed real impact potential and was in line with current trends,” Pinho explained, before revealing the winners of the Biosphere 2 demo day pitching competition: Team Lensor
farmers can reduce the amount of fertiliser used by making sure that they apply only the needed amounts in the parts of the field that really need it
while also helping to protect the environment from the harms of overfertilisation
had been impressed with what Lensor’s technology could do
saying that this kind of solution was exactly what they needed
that Lensor’s pitch included the impressive declaration that they already had their first paying customers
Asked how it felt to have won the competition
Lensor Co-Founder Prasad summarised the experience in one word: “exciting!”
“Biosphere was great for us,” Prasad continued
“it helped us get the structure we needed to develop this to this stage
and for me personally coming with a non-business background
it helped me understand the commercial side of things
get used to the business and development pipeline.” He also added that the ticket to NØRD created a very interesting opportunity for the team
as Germany is one of the markets that they envision their solution being good for
Their mentors were also delighted to see the team succeed. Mentor Peik Stenlund expressed his delight at the team’s journey so far having been so successful: “They were bravely exploring
thinking about all of the core things related to building a business and making great progress
All I did was give them some ideas and inputs
While the second batch of Biosphere has just ended
and the Helsinki Incubators team as a whole are already looking towards the future with the upcoming third Biosphere batch
the call for which is currently open until 1 May
Inviting applications from all brave thinkers
and innovators in the fields of bioeconomy
Biosphere 3 will offer another group of promising would-be entrepreneurs half a year of support
and guidance to turn solutions into impactful ventures
For inquiries regarding Biosphere or how to participate in the next batch
pedro.gensinimotoa@helsinki.fi
For inquiries regarding mentoring or corporate partnerships with Biosphere
alfonso.gutierrez@helsinki.fi
Anneli Auer attended a hearing at the District Court of Southwest Finland in Turku in December 2017
Helsingin Sanomat on Friday revealed that Auer’s children have retracted their testimonies against their mother
saying they had made them under persuasion and pressure from foster parents
THE CHILDREN of Anneli Auer have retracted their testimonies in a case that saw their mother and her former boyfriend sentenced to lengthy prison terms for sexual abuse, reports Helsingin Sanomat
The Turku Court of Appeal in June 2013 sentenced Auer to seven and a half years and her former boyfriend to 10 years in prison for a slew of offences including two counts of aggravated rape
several counts of aggravated child sexual abuse
had been committed against all four children of Auer
Helsingin Sanomat on Friday reported that it has seen footage of the oldest child stating in an interview that the offences had actually not taken place
a statement that has been corroborated by her three siblings
The children said they fabricated their stories about offences committed by their mother and her boyfriend under pressure and persuasion from their foster parents
The interviews were recorded by Markku Fredman
a lawyer who submitted an appeal to overturn both sentences with the Supreme Court on Friday
The appeal rests principally on the argument that the sentences were originally handed down largely based on the children’s testimonies
Auer and her former boyfriend are both presently represented by Fredman
The appeal also demands that all documents pertaining to the case be unsealed
as only the operative part of the judgement and a brief summary of the justification have been publicly available
The case was kept under wraps in an attempt to protect the children
but also the children are currently in favour of releasing the case documents
While both Auer and her former boyfriend have already served their sentences
the appeal demands that the ruling be overturned due to the shameful nature of the wrongful and widely publicised sentences
Helsingin Sanomat pointed out that experts voiced their reservations about the children’s testimonies already during the trial proceedings
estimating that they contained signs of possible persuasion and pressure
The children were called as witnesses in two separate trials against their mother
While the Vaasa Court of Appeal ruled that their testimonies were not credible and did not corroborate an earlier murder charge brought against Auer
the Turku Court of Appeal dismissed some of the children's testimonies as unlikely and unrealistic but deemed the rest detailed and consistent when considering the sexual abuse case
Auer was twice found guilty for the murder of her husband
were overturned by the Vaasa District Court
If the Supreme Court overturned the sexual abuse sentence, it would signal a serious moment of self-reflection for the Finnish legal system, Matti Tolvanen, a professor of criminal law at the University of Eastern Finland, told YLE on Friday
will have to carefully mull over the relevance of the amended statements
“[The process] will also be affected by the evidence that was originally used to rule on the case in the district court
we don’t know if there was other evidence besides the children’s accounts,” he said to the public broadcasting company
Auer and her former boyfriend would likely also be entitled to substantial financial compensation if the ruling was struck down
Open image viewerAnneli Auer Image: Yle9.5.2012 11:13•Updated 10.5.2012 5:57A day earlier
prosecutors claimed a man who was murdered in December 2006 may have been killed as part of a satanic worship ritual
The case has been making headlines in Finland ever since the man was found dead at his family home in Ulvila
was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime
with an appeals court in Vaasa ruling that there had not been sufficient evidence to convict her
In September Auer was re-arrested along with her former boyfriend on charges of sexual abuse and other violent crimes
alleged to have occurred between 2004 and 2009
Meanwhile prosecutors appealed last July's decision
with court documents outlining his belief that injuries sustained by the man suggest the crime could have been part of a satanic ritual
The documents also claim that there were incidents of skin cutting and animal sacrifices in the family
In a prison interview with the commercial broadcaster Nelonen on Wednesday
Auer denied any involvement or interest in Satanism
She said the claims were based on testimony from her children
She said she had not heard of the markings allegedly found on her late husband's body
Auer sex crimes case goes to court in MarchPublished 20122012Woman acquitted of murdering husband now in court for sex abusePublished 20122012Sources: Yle, Nelonen
Hearings in the re-opened case began on Tuesday in the Satakunta District Court in Pori
The retrial centres on new evidence tabled by prosecutors
Image: Yle20.8.2013 9:16•Updated 20.8.2013 15:14Anneli Auer was convicted of murdering her husband in 2006
Following a decision by the Supreme Court last year to strike down all lower court rulings and to re-open the case
Auer will once more begin her defense in a Pori court
prosecutors are bringing new evidence against the defendant
a central part of which turns on testimony by the defendant’s children
and which prosecutors say provides a motive for the 2006 murder
Some of the new evidence unearthed also relates to a separate sexual abuse case
in which Auer was found guilty by a Turku court earlier this year
Both prosecution and defence have called a number of witnesses to testify and to evaluate the credibility of the statements made my Auer’s children
Auer’s eldest daughter will also be heard in court
Auer’s previous defense against the murder charge rested on the presence of foreign DNA found at the scene of the murder
which appeared to corroborate the claim that the crime was committed by an unknown intruder
However the foreign DNA has since been identified as coming from a police crime lab
police involved in the murder investigation have come under heavy fire for mishandling the case
with the defence charging that the blunders were intentional
These claims of bias will also be examined during the new hearings
The Ulvila murder took place in an otherwise tranquil residential area in early December 2006
with the wife of the deceased man coming under suspicion in 2009
The Satakunta district court found the defendant Anneli Auer guilty of murder in 2010 and sentenced her to life in prison
However one year later the sentence was overturned and Auer was acquitted
The Supreme Court decided to return the case to the lower courts in October 2012
one of the most sensational and convoluted in Finnish legal history
Open image viewerImage: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva19.10.2012 9:43•Updated 19.10.2012 16:38Auer was convicted of murdering her husband in 2006
The case will be reopened and Auer will be re-tried because of new evidence
The Supreme Court ruling said that new evidence that has come to light that should be examined
some of the evidence would not be presented at all levels of the court system
The prosecution was granted an appeal last spring against Auer's acquittal by the Vaasa Court of Appeal
Prosecutors said that further investigations had brought a large body of new evidence against Auer
The murder investigation has been going on for nearly six years
since the murder took place at Ulvila in Satakunta in December 2006
Anneli Auer is presently serving a prison term
she and her former boyfriend were handed long prison sentences on numerous counts of sexual and other violent crimes
Anneli Auer sentenced to 7 years for sex crimesPublished 20122012Prosecution claims Satanic link in Auer casePublished 20122012Sources: Yle
THE DISTRICT Court of Satakunta has sentenced Anneli Auer to life in prison for the murder of her husband in Ulvila in 2006 on a 2—1 split decision
with one of the judges deeming it possible that the homicide was committed by an intruder
The dissenting judge argued that although evidence corroborating the murder charge was presented
reasonable doubt about the presence of a third party remains
the other judges contrastively viewed that no third party could have been in the house on the night of the homicide in December
The theory of a third party – a man in a hoody – was only supported by the accounts of Auer and her oldest daughter
who was nine years old at the time of the incident
the court called attention to the vague nature of the accounts
the perpetrator could not have hidden in the bathroom
because he would not have been able to leave the room without the door touching the head of the victim
and the court ruled that the account was based on a false image
Factors deemed to negate third party theory
- The amount of time required for the sequence of events
- No brown fibres embedded in the victim's clothes
- Auer could not have checked up on the victim as she has claimed
- Traces of the victim's blood were found on Auer's clothes
- Lack of footprints or other signs of the alleged intruder in the immediate vicinity
the court emphasises that it concentrated solely on the events leading up to the homicide
thus suggesting that the incriminating statements given by Auer's three younger children several years after the homicide were ignored
the district court concentrated specifically on the Ulvila incident and disregarded everything related to the events that followed,” the court states
Auer's calm demeanour during the emergency call was regarded as inconclusive
while the allegation of her playing a recording of the victim groaning in the background of the call was dismissed as unsubstantiated
the court found Auer guilty of murder due to the various painful injuries inflicted on the victim
the amount of suffering he had to endure and his defencelessness
The act was therefore particularly cruel and brutal
remains uncertain as the court concluded that the couple's alleged marital troubles could not have been the direct cause of the homicide
Helsingin SanomatAleksi Teivainen – HT© Helsingin SanomatPhoto: Roni Rekomaa / Lehtikuva
Open image viewerAuer said at the Suomi Areena event in Pori in July that she knows who killed her husband
Image: Pasi Murto / AOP8.9.2016 10:32•Updated 8.9.2016 14:11The State Treasury has awarded the largest damages for emotional distress in Finnish history to Anneli Auer
who was convicted of killing her husband Jukka S
The treasury announced on Wednesday that Auer will receive nearly 490,000 euros for spending 611 days in prison for the crime
Convicted sex offender Auer was granted 800 euros per day of imprisonment
whereas the average recompense is 120 euros per day
The treasury rationalises the higher daily sum by the length of her loss of liberty and the seriousness of the suspected crime
Auer had sought damages of 2500 euros per day
citing the high level of publicity surrounding the case
which has been a hotly-debated topic in the Finnish media for nearly a decade
Lahti was murdered at their family home in Ulvila
There have been many twists and turns in the story
including Auer's affair with an undercover policeman and her conviction for aggravated sexual abuse of children
She was released in mid-2015 after serving about half of a seven-and-a-half year sentence for those offences
Auer's lawyer Juha Manner tells Yle that he is not entirely satisfied with the damages decision and that Auer may appeal to a district court
He asserts that the ruling does not sufficiently take into account the level of media coverage of the case
and that Auer spent more than 611 days in prison on the murder charges
The tabloid Ilta-Sanomat was first to report the story
a motorcycle club that authorities have long described as an organised crime network
broke up last week according to tabloid Iltalehti
The National Bureau of Investigation says the dissolution is significant to the makeup of the Finnish underworld
but will not actually help bring down organised crime
Open image viewerPolice operation at a Cannonball clubhouse
Image: Katja Halinen / Yle19.7.2017 17:21Some ex-members of Cannonball MC
a long-standing criminal outfit and motorcycle club that broke apart last week
are likely to found a new club of their own or join up with existing groups
the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) says
Cannonball MC was founded in 1991 and many of its members were tied to a whole range of wrongdoings
from aggravated assault and drug trafficking to various financial crimes
The club broke apart due to internal disagreements
Daily Iltalehti was the first to report on the motorcycle gang's rupture
The paper also mentioned how ex-members were going on social media
posting pictures and videos of themselves burning their Cannonball vests
The NBI's investigations unit chief Sanna Palo says her organisation is aware of the comings and goings in the world of organised crime
She says that the crumbling of Cannonball MC will affect Finnish gangland dynamics
but will do nothing to actually put an end to organised crime
"We have been aware of things changing gear
When an organisation as old and well-known as this goes down
but it's too soon to tell how," Palo says
Palo estimates that the now-orphaned gang members will try to reorganise
"We'll have to wait and see whether that means forming a new club or swelling the ranks of existing ones
It's unlikely that ex-members would find themselves ousted from gang life entirely."
Palo is unwilling to comment on the possible reasons for the club's breakup
The NBI is currently aware of some 90 active gangs with a total membership of about 800 people
which outsiders could only join through an existing member's sponsorship
The strictly hierarchical group demanded absolute loyalty of its members and boasted branches in ten different regions within Finland as well as one in Tallinn
Open image viewerAnneli Auer. Image: Leena Luotio / YleYle News2.3.2023 17:15•Updated 3.3.2023 8:27This week the All Points North podcast looks at the Ulvila homicide
which has been in and out of the headlines in Finland for some 17 years
But now the children have said they want to retract their testimony
We asked Yle crime reporter Tuomas Rimpiläinen if there were doubts about the conviction at the time
He said the trial was not exactly an open book
"During the trial three psychology experts witnessed
and they all said that the children's accounts are unreliable
but still the court thought that there were parts of the stories that actually were reliable," said Rimpiläinen
"And that's a big problem because if three individual experts were witnesses and the court still goes in the other direction
Back then we didn't know any of this because the trial was completely secret."
we wondered if there might be a problem with confidence in the Finnish system
Rimpiläinen said it was a distinct possibility
and there may be lessons for Finnish police and prosecutors to learn
"I really think that courts need to make better public statements about what kind of evidence their verdicts are based on.
big problem in Finland—that courts make these public statements that actually are very short and don't tell anything about the evidence that the verdicts are based on."
We also take a sneak peek at the election compass
Russian and Sámi ahead of elections on 2 April
Yle Producer Ville Laakso explained what the compass is and how it works
"Yle has sent all the candidates a list of questions and many of them have answered and so
in the election compass service the user gets to answer the same questions and then the machine will tell you which of the candidates agree with you the most and who agrees with you the least," said Laakso
This year the compass will include new elements including a section on the parties
as party lists are an important part of the electoral system in Finland
We also look at a fuss over schools coverage
and ask for listener experiences about the Finnish education system
This week's show was presented by Egan Richardson and Zena Iovino
If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts
contact us via WhatsApp on +358 44 421 0909
or at yle.news@yle.fi and allpointsnorth@yle.fi
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the District Court handed Auer a life prison sentence for the murder
Open image viewerAnneli Auer Image: Jari Pelkonen / Yle19.2.2015 14:04•Updated 19.2.2015 18:15The Vaasa Court of Appeal found Auer not guilty of murdering her husband Jukka Lahti in 2006
The Court said that the prosecutor had the burden of proof when it came to murder or manslaughter
while Auer had no responsibility to provide evidence for her innocence
or to contribute towards investigation to determine her guilt
unreliable evidence due to deficiencies in the preliminary investigation could not be allowed to adversely affect an accused
especially in the case of alleged serious crimes
One member of the Court of Appeal would have rejected Auer’s appeal and upheld the earlier District Court conviction
The Court of Appeal agreed with the District Court that it was not proved that the sounds of distress heard in the background of Auer’s emergency phone call in Ulvila originated from a sound recording made earlier
The Court also questioned the prosecutor’s evidence relating to the hearings involving Auer’s children
Their accounts of the murder night were not credible or compatible with the accounts given to the Police in their technical investigation
The Court of Appeal asserted that given the factors that suggest an outside perpetrator
and because it had not been shown that Auer had staged the crime
there was considerable doubt as to her guilt
it had not been shown that Auer had murdered Lahti in the way described in the charges brought against her
and so the charge of murder or manslaughter had to be dropped
This was the second time Anneli Auer was tried in the Court of Appeals
the District Court sentenced Auer to life imprisonment for killing her husband
In July 2011 the Court of Appeal dropped the charges against Auer due to insufficient evidence
which remitted it to the District Court due to new evidence presented by the prosecutor
Auer was convicted of sexual abuse of children
She is currently sitting a seven and a half-year prison sentence but is due to be released this summer
Open image viewerImage: Timo Kallio / Yle28.3.2018 14:14•Updated 28.3.2018 14:43Commuting to work from another province has become an increasingly popular trend as workers are more willing to go the distance to remain employed
Depending on job flexibility and transport options
this can often mean leaving home before the break of dawn
Such is the case for Ulvila resident Soili Ketomäki who is used to hitting the road on a daily basis for her 100 kilometer commute from the west coast city to the hub of Tampere in central Finland
Ketomäki says she has been commuting for a year-and-a-half
but spending weekdays there and weekends at home just felt more draining than commuting on a daily basis,” said Ketomäki
After a long day of work Ketomäki has a house full of family waiting for her
Moving the household to Tampere was never an option as the husband’s job is rooted as a farming entrepreneur
Commuting to and from her construction services job however
Ketomäki has found advantages to the hour long trips
”On my way home I get to mull over my work day
I think its nice that the journey last a little longer as I can think through my work and get things in order,” said Ketomäki
Open image viewerUlvila resident Soili Ketomäki makes a daily commute to Tampere
Image: Jari Pelkonen / YleEven though commutes provide an opportunity to use time productively
Ketomäki also admits that work is not the only topic on her mind in the morning drives
”When I leave in the mornings I put on an audio book and listen to detective stories
I’m usually solving murders on my way to work.”
Ketomäki aknowledges that the commuting can at times be a drain
According to commuting numbers from Statistics Finland
commuting has continually increased over the past several decades
In the 1980s one-in-five would commute to their workplace outside of their residential municipality
while figures from 2015 indicate a rise to one-in-three
approximately 42,834 of them commute a distance of more than 100 km
Commuting is most popular around larger cities and growing hotspots like the northwest city of Pori that pulls in workers from neighbouring municipalities
20 percent of workers living Pori commute to workplaces out-of-town
Some 6,000 of Pori's 32,000 working residents Pori commute out of the municipality to work
Turku and Helsinki offer employment possibilities
drawing some 725 Pori residents to work in those cities every day
Meanwhile some 516 workers from those three cities travel to Pori for their work every day
While workers commuting from Pori often are employed in wholesale
the city also attracts workers in the fields of social and health care as well as education
professor of scoial work in Tampere University’s Pori campus
commutes between Tampere and Pori by train
Image: Marjut Suomi / YleA seasoned interrailer enjoys the tripIrene Roivainen
professor of social work in Tampere University’s Pori campus
The departure at eight in the morning and return 12 hours later is not a big deal
Roivainen began commuting in early Autumn last year and says the decision was easy
If I had kids in daycare or primary school to take care of
the situation would be entirely different.”
The journey to Pori and back seemed a good option to Roivainen as the trip allows time to catch up on work in the morning and free time on the commute back home
Roivainen emphasises that as long as work goes well
”The main point is that you have a good work community and an enjoyable job,” said Roivainen
However one point that bothers Roivainen is the lack of trains between Tampere and Pori
since the last train to Tampere leaves at six in the evening
The decision to commute is rarely a forced one says Timo Aro
doctor of social sciences and development manager of the city of Pori
Aro says the typical commuter is a family man aged between 35 and 44 who works in a government job
His earnings are likely 20 percent higher than the average in his own municipality
Meanwhile those least likely to commute to work are 55 year old single women
Image: Jari Pelkonen / YleTechnology has enabled workers to no longer be tied down to a specific time or place
working remotely has not lessened commuting or migration as both are still on the rise