Estonian prisoner who stabbed man in Tallinn Selver gets extra time for attacking cellmate

Harju County Court has added nearly one year to the sentence of Ülo Kuulman, a 43-year-old Estonian citizen already serving time for attempted murder. The new sentence stems from a prison cell assault at Tallinn Prison in April 2024. Taking into account partial merging of sentences, Kuulman must now serve a further 5 years, 11 months and 10 days.

Harju County Court has found 43-year-old Estonian citizen Ülo Kuulman guilty of repeatedly using physical violence against his cellmate at Tallinn Prison, adding nearly a year to the sentence he was already serving for attempted murder.

The Prison Incident

According to court documents, the incident took place on the morning of 17 April 2024 in a two-person cell at Tallinn Prison. The conflict erupted after the victim criticised Kuulman for dropping a scrap of paper on the floor. Following breakfast distribution, Kuulman struck the cellmate hard in the face with his fist. The victim sustained bruising to the bridge of the nose, swelling, and an extensive bruise around the left eye. A medical examination of Kuulman himself revealed swelling in his hand, which the court cited as corroborating evidence that he had thrown the punch.

After the assault, Kuulman called the central security desk and demanded that his cellmate be removed from the cell. Prison staff documented the victim's injuries during their morning rounds, and the victim told a guard he had been physically attacked.

Defence Claims Rejected

During the trial, Kuulman denied all guilt and claimed he had been falsely accused. The court dismissed these arguments as unsubstantiated, citing the victim's testimony, body-camera footage from prison staff, medical examination results, and other evidence. Kuulman also repeatedly disrupted court proceedings, leading the judge to remove him from the courtroom before the verdict was read.

The court also reviewed findings from a comprehensive forensic psychiatric and psychological examination. Despite identified mental disorders and alcohol dependency, experts concluded that Kuulman had been legally sane at the time of the offence, understood the nature of his actions, and was capable of controlling them.

Sentence and Background

The court noted that Kuulman had previously been sentenced in July 2023 to eight years and five months in prison for attempted murder. The new offence was committed while he was already incarcerated.

For the repeated use of physical violence, the court handed down a one-year custodial sentence. After partial merging with the remaining original sentence, Kuulman must serve a further 5 years, 11 months and 10 days.

The court also ordered Kuulman to pay legal costs of €1,722.84, covering state fees and the fees of state-appointed defence lawyers. Given the possibility of employment within the correctional facility, the court permitted payment in instalments of €143.57 per month over one year.

The original attempted murder conviction relates to an incident in autumn 2022, when Kuulman stabbed a man in the heart at a Selver supermarket in Tallinn's Kadriorg neighbourhood. The victim had intervened to defend a cashier whom Kuulman was harassing. Kuulman fled the scene but was later apprehended. The victim survived. Kuulman has been in custody since 8 October 2022.