Cop charged with shooting colleague by chance

A police officer faces trial after one of his colleagues sustained a bullet wound due to an accidental fire shot from his gun after a training session in Hämeenlinna, reported the national broadcaster Yle.

The shooting took place in March last year at the police station at night.

The trial began at the Kanta-Häme District Court on Thursday.

The prosecutor demanded at least 70 day-fines for carelessness of the officer while using firearms, aggravated injury, and negligence of official duties.

The accident took place after a training session, when guns used in the session were switched back from their safety setting to the regular on-duty setting, said the Yle report.

The trainer then began to present a situation, during which the gun went off. It passed through the elbow of a policeman who had been taking part in the class. The bullet also grazed a side of his chest, the Yle report added.