D. Esposito
Desposito
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Desposito
TRANSCRIPT OF TAPED INTERVIEW
Name: Aapo VIRTANEN
Residence: Florence, Italy
Date of Birth: 10th May 1987
Date of Interview: 10th January 2024
Location of Interview: Oulu Police Service
Interviewed By: Chief Detective Inspector Risto OTTAVAINEN
Others Present: Detective Inspector Sami KETINEN
Solicitor Angelo Brondi
CDI/OTTAVAINEN This interview is being taped recorded and may be given in evidence if your case is brought to trial. We are in an interview room at Oulu Police Station. The date is 10th January 2024 and the time by my watch is 12:34pm. I am Chief Detective Inspector Risto Ottavainen. The other police officer present is Detective Inspector Sami Ketinen. Please state your full name and date of birth.
VIRTANEN Aapo Juuso Virtanen, born on 10th May 1987.
CDI/OTTAVAINEN Also present is Mr. Virtanen's solicitor Angelo Brondi. Do you agree that there are no other persons present?.
VIRTANEN Yes.
CDI/OTTAVAINEN You are not here to act simply as an observer. Your role here is to advise Mr. Virtanen, facilitate communication and ensure that the interview is conducted fairly. Before the start of this interview, I must remind you that you are entitled to free and independent legal advice either in person or by telephone at any stage. At the conclusion of the interview, I will give you a notice explaining what will happen to the tapes and how you and/or your solicitor can get access to them. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you may later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
DI/KETINEN Interview begins.
CDI/OTTAVAINEN Mr. Virtanen, were you present at the E8 bridge over the Oulujoki river at approximately 7pm on 19th December 2019.
VIRTANEN I probably was. I was the way back to my home at the time and that would be around the time that I finished work at Raatti Stadion.
CDI/OTTAVAINEN And on your way home, did you come across Niilo Makinen?
DI/KETINEN CDI Ottavainen has shown an image of Niilo Makinen's face to Aapo Virtanen and Angelo Brondi.
VIRTANEN I may have done. I can't remember much given that the incident was over four years ago now, I have seen a lot of faces.
CDI/OTTAVAINEN Niilo Makinen's body was found in 2020 on the Swedish port of Umea. His last known sighting was by his family on the 19th of December 2019. He was last seen on surveillance cameras on the E8 bridge at approximately the same time that you walked onto the bridge and out of sight of any CCTV cameras. In the time that you and Makinen were out of view of surveillance cameras, what occurred on the E8 bridge, as you are seen walking back the same way you entered, whereas Makinen was never seen again?
BRONDI No comment.
DI/KETINEN Given that you were the last person likely to have seen Niilo Makinen in person on that particular night, it is pivotal that we know what you saw so we are able to wrap the case of his death up as a police force, to help his family get closure, too.
BRONDI My client states no comment once again.
DCI/OTTAVAINEN Okay, so you stated earlier that you would have to walk across the E8 bridge so that you were able to get home. Why is it that instead of walking across the bridge to your home, instead you turned back and headed back the way you had originally walked?
VIRTANEN I had forgotten something at work. That night, the football club began the winter holidays for the management and it was my last chance to grab whatever I needed back home. After I had what I needed, I headed the direction back home again.
DCI/OTTAVAINEN What did you forget at work?
VIRTANEN Just a few stationery objects, pens, pencils. I had a few Christmas presents that I had kept away from my girlfriend back at home so I needed to go and collect them before Christmas Day.
DCI/OTTAVAINEN Did you see Niilo Makinen on your way back over the E8 bridge?
VIRTANEN No, I did not see anybody when I walked over the bridge and back home.
DCI/OTTAVAINEN Niilo Makinen was a key witness on the pending panel of witnesses which were testifying against gang-related crimes. Have you ever knowingly been in contact with any gang members in the Scandinavia region?
VIRTANEN No, sir. As a popular figure in this town, a lot of people come and say hello to me and ask for photos and the sort, but I have never knowingly been in contact with any gang members in my life.
DCI/OTTAVAINEN During your current brief spell in Italy, has anybody approached you with regards to this case and you being called in for questioning over the death of Niilo Makinen?
VIRTANEN No, sir.
DCI/OTTAVAINEN Okay. Back to the 19th of December 2019, you were seen on CCTV seemingly searching for something in both your coat and trouser pockets. Do you recall what you were searching for just before you turned left onto the E8 bridge?
VIRTANEN No, I do not recall. I remember around the time I used to smoke cigarettes to keep my fingertips warm, but honestly I do not remember what in particular that I was searching for in my pockets. It could have been anything.
DCI/OTTAVAINEN Have you ever been offered or promised anything by anybody in relation to anything concerning Niilo Makinen?
VIRTANEN No, sir.
DCI/OTTAVAINEN Mr. Virtanen, were you involved, directly or indirectly in the death of Niilo Makinen?
BRONDI No comment.
INTERVIEW TERMINATED AT 1:13PM ON 10TH JANUARY 2024
