The proceedings of the case started in Helsinki district court on Tuesday.
Topi Rönni will answer the charge in the Helsinki district court. Elle Laitila
SM league hockey player Top Rönni19, will answer the charge of rape in the Helsinki district court on Tuesday.
The session will be held behind closed doors, but Rönni, who is free to answer the charges, faced the media before the trial began. He didn’t want to comment on the charge or the discussions his club had with Tappara.
– We are not commenting anything now, Rönni replied to Iltalehte and walked away from the scene.
In the hall, Rönni put her head down in front of the photographer.
The suspected crime took place in Helsinki in June 2021. Rönni, representing Tappara, was still a minor at the time.
Information about the player’s indictment became public in October of last year.
– The last two or so years have been difficult while waiting for the matter to progress. I trust that the related course of events will be clarified in connection with the trial, Rönni said on Tappara’s website in October.
World Cup medalist
Rönni put his head down in front of the photographer. Elle Laitila
Rönni arrived at the Helsinki District Court on Tuesday. Elle Laitila
Rönni has represented Finland’s youth national teams in several prestigious competitions and won the World Cup bronze medal for under-18s. In Tappara, he has won two Finnish championships.
The Calgary Flames booked Rönni in the second round to the NHL in s2022. The club did not know about the suspected crime during the booking event.
Tappara commented last year that he takes the suspected crime seriously and moved Rönni aside from his activities. The center forward returned to the club’s activities a few weeks later.
He was named to the composition a good month after the indictment became public.
– It is good to remember that in Finland, the judiciary has the power to judge and the presumption of innocence is an essential part of both human rights and Finnish legal principles. We now let the judiciary do its work in peace, CEO of Tamhockey Mika Aro comment on the solution.
Rönni was put aside from national team activities when the criminal suspicion came to light.
According to the Ice Hockey Federation, a player cannot participate in national team activities if the suspected crime involves a procedure that seriously violates another person’s personal integrity or sexual self-determination, or another particularly serious criminal matter, which, if found guilty, would likely result in a prison sentence.
Topi Rönni represents Tappara. PDO