The Tottori Family Court has sent a 19-year-old girl who took part in the murder of a 20-year-old college student at a Nagoya hotel in December to a juvenile reformatory for three years.
The girl, who is a college student, and a 20-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of killing Yuri Kako, a university student from Tokai City in Aichi Prefecture, whom they got to know on a social media site for people looking for help to commit suicide.
Kako’s body was found in a business hotel room on Dec 6, with a plastic bag over her head and tape was wound tightly around her neck.
According to a TV Tokai report, the hotel, in Naka Ward, called police after an employee found Kako unresponsive, lying on a bed, after she failed to leave the room by the noon check-out time.
An autopsy revealed she had died from acute respiratory failure.
In handing down the ruling against the girl, Judge Yuichi Tada said that “a young victim lost her life and the consequences will be severe.” On the other hand, he pointed out that she was told what to do by her male accomplice who assured her they were acting on the victim’s own wish to die. The judge said “the maliciousness is low compared to other homicide cases.”
The girl was initially sent to the Nagoya Family Court in December but she was transferred to the Tottori Family Court. Her male accomplice has been indicted and is yet to stand trial.
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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nakanoguy01
Shouldn't she have been prosecuted as an adult...because she is one?!?!
Michael Machida
Did you know?
In Japan adulthood begins at 18? On April 1, 2022 this age was set as the age of becoming legally not a child.
So, why is she not an adult in this matter?
shogun36
Low, huh? So what is considered “high?”
What? Did she help strangle the woman and said “oops, my bad,” after?
The judge should also be thrown in jail for ignorance.
GillislowTier
Japanese judges are wild. Not a single thought or consideration in their heads. They only interpret the law 100% as it is written and not how it should be applied per situation.
lady is an adult and officially one by that matter. “Not particularly malicious “ what the hell is the metric for that.
browny1
There are numerous cases of persons suspected of murder or associated with, being tried as adults although they are under 20.
The Family Court has the power to refer cases to Adult criminal courts when murder has occurred.
daikaka
Actually it is still quiet easy to give out a life sentence even if under 20. As long as prosecutors prove she have mental issue, she would be referred to psychiatric hospital, which in Japan is life sentence 80% of the time statistically. Even those who do can get out takes 10-20+ years.
John-San
In financial dealing a Japanese citizen is by law an adult at age 18. Anything else is a grey area concerning ages between 18 and 20 at present.
kaimycahl
WTF Homicide is homicide!!
The judge said “the maliciousness is low compared to other homicide cases.”
John
Judge said consequences will be severe. It sounds like that was a joke
Strangerland
By law? By custom? In regards to alcohol? In regards to sexual relations? Not enough info here, as there are various ages at which people become 'adults', depending on what is being talked about.
Dan Walsh
In Japan, with the acception of finances and voting, 20 is considered to be an adult. Don't apply your countries social standings to another.