Police investigating the killing of Professor Kari S. Tikka are convinced that the young men taken into custody on Sunday were involved in the homicide.
"Both technical and tactical investigations point strongly in the direction of us having the right perpetrator or perpetrators", says crime inspector Arto Karalahti who is the head of the investigation.
The suspicion is so strong that there are no other active angles of investigation. The technical investigation is still continuing, however.
Tikka was killed early last Thursday in the Punavuori district of central Helsinki. The suspects, two men aged 19 and 23, were apprehended in Vuosaari on Sunday.
One of the two has been interrogated, but the other one has refused to answer any questions. He has also refused offers of legal counsel.
According to inspector Karalahti, the police are asking for the court to appoint a lawyer for the silent suspect.
This will happen at the same time that the police ask for the men to be remanded in custody. The remand hearing is expected to take place on Thursday.
