Norwegian veterinarian Rolf Nordmo, known within the aquaculture industry for his past work in salmon health and fish welfare, has been charged with the murder of former Finnish ice hockey player and reality TV contestant Janne Puhakka.
Nordmo, 66, who was officially charged last week, is accused of fatally shooting the 29-year-old former professional athlete at their shared home in Espoo, Finland, in October 2024, local outlet Yle reports.
Finnish prosecutors allege the crime was premeditated, with planning taking place over several weeks. The trial is set to begin at the Western Uusimaa District Court in Espoo on Thursday.
While Nordmo became widely known for his high-profile relationship with Puhakka, he had a longstanding career in fish health and aquaculture, particularly in Norway’s salmon farming industry.
He worked as station manager in the development of the Veso Vikan research station in Namsos and has served as managing director of Biotec Animal Health and Biorigin Scandinavia/Europe, working on R&D and global sales of immunostimulating products for production animals, including fish.
In addition to his work with Biotec and Biorigin, Nordmo has served as managing director of AquaGen and as a veterinary inspector in the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture.
Murder Investigation
Finnish prosecutors claim the shooting took place over a period of several days, between September 29 and October 13, 2024. Authorities suspect that Nordmo had planned the attack well in advance, leading to the decision to charge him with murder, rather than manslaughter. Under Finnish law, a murder conviction typically results in a life sentence, which in Finland often amounts to less than 15 years in prison.
Puhakka, the first Finnish professional ice hockey player to come out as gay, was still appearing as a contestant on Finland’s version of the reality TV show The Traitors when he was killed. Nordmo was detained at the scene and has admitted to shooting Puhakka but denies murder charges.
Police have suggested that a relationship breakup was the likely motive, as the pair had reportedly grown apart earlier in 2024 after nearly a decade together.
Reaction in Finland and Norway
The murder has shocked Finland, where Puhakka was well known both for his ice hockey career and his television appearances. The finale of The Traitors has been indefinitely postponed following his death, with broadcaster Nelonen releasing a statement expressing condolences to his loved ones.
In Norway, the case has also drawn attention given Nordmo’s connections to the veterinary and seafood industries. Though he had not been actively involved in frontline aquaculture roles in recent years, his name was known within fish health research and regulatory circles.
The trial is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with further legal proceedings set to determine the full circumstances behind the killing.
