Ewo Pohjola, manager of Symphonic Metal band Nightwish, has been charged with assault following an incident in October 2023 at the Music x Media event in Tampere, Finland. Pohjola allegedly strangled a woman during this event, an act for which he was formally charged. Nightwish said it would not comment on the case until the trial is complete.
Details of the incident
According to a report from the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE), the victim claims that Ewo Pohjola, allegedly intoxicated, approached her and another man in a bar. After an exchange between the woman and the second man, Pohjola returned and suddenly placed his hands around her neck in a “tight choke hold”adding that “it was exciting” before walking away.
A second woman also reported a similar experience, although she did not file a complaint. She claims Pohjola approached her at a bar and pulled her by the hair to force her closer to him. Shortly after this incident, Pohjola was reportedly expelled from the establishment.
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Music x Media's reaction
Jani Jalonen, CEO of Music x Media, confirmed that inappropriate behavior occurred at the event, but declined to comment on the details of the matter. He recalled that participants must respect the values of the event and that a protocol is in place to manage cases of harassment.
For his part, Ewo Pohjola denied the facts, claiming last February to have no knowledge of the incident. Nightwish confirmed to MetalSucks that the group would not comment while the investigation and trial were ongoing.
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