The Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision in the Ahtme shooting criminal case

NAMM attorney Simone Eelmaa achieved an important procedural interim success for the victim in the Supreme Court: the Tartu Court of Appeal’s decision was overturned and the criminal case was sent back for a new hearing. The Supreme Court’s decision of 23 February 2026 was made in criminal case no. 1-24-5284, which concerned a fatal shooting in Ahtme. A NAMM attorney represents the victim in this case.

The county court found the accused guilty of intentional killing, but the Court of Appeal held that the act amounted to causing death by negligence. The victim’s representative filed a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal’s decision, arguing that the accused should have been convicted of intentional killing, not causing death by negligence.

Although the case will now be heard again by the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court gave important guidance, and the Court of Appeal’s previous decision cannot stand in its current form. For the victim, it is important that the new hearing provides clear answers and a legal assessment of how the fatal shooting should be treated under criminal law. Hopefully, the new decision of the Court of Appeal will bring the desired legal closure in this case. Read more about the Supreme Court’s decision.