Man Charged In Killings That Inspired CHILDREN OF BODOM's Name

Matti Huuhtanen of The Associated Press has issued the following report:

The killing of three teenage camping companions found stabbed to death inside a tent 45 years ago has haunted Finland for decades — spawning books, conspiracy theories and even the name of a rock band [CHILDREN OF BODOM].

On Tuesday (August 16),a 63-year-old man who was also found in the tent that day — unconscious, stabbed 10 times and with a crushed jaw — was charged with murder in the deaths.

Nils Gustafsson denies committing the killings, but told reporters at Espoo District Court near Helsinki that he cannot remember what happened on the fatal night in 1960.

"I'm innocent, and that's that," Gustafsson said, appearing weary and tense. "My last memory is of when we went to bed and wished each other a good night. After that, I don't remember if it was Wednesday or Thursday when I woke up."

The bodies of two 15-year-old girls and an 18-year-old male were found with multiple stab wounds inside a tent by Lake Bodom in Espoo. Gustafsson, then 18, was found in the same tent.

The murder weapon was never discovered, and Gustafsson's shoes were found 800 yards from the tent, said his lawyer, Riitta Leppiniemi. "He was very badly injured and could not have done what he is being charged with."

The story of the stabbings has generated great public interest and speculation for decades. A popular heavy metal band, CHILDREN OF BODOM, was named after the murders.

Finland has no statute of limitations for murder, and the case was reopened after DNA samples taken from Gustafsson's shoes were analyzed by forensic experts in Britain earlier this year. The trial is expected to take several weeks.

If found guilty, Gustafsson faces a life sentence.

The defense maintains evidence points to the existence of a fifth person at the tent. All four were initially believed to have been victims of an outside attacker.