crime

Former Morning Musume singer Yoshizawa indicted over hit-and-run incident

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The assumption here that the woman will get probation "because it is Japan" is not well founded. A fine, suspension of license (ban), and probation is common for first offences in Britain. Sentencing is entirely discretionary or as one recent newspaper article on the subject stated, "But the exact punishment each driver is handed depends solely on the decision of the magistrate in court."

This commercial legal advice site for the UK indicates that prison sentences are more of a last than first resort.

http://www.drinkdrivingsolicitor.co.uk/prison-sentences/

I am not a lawyer, but I have done some reading on this issue, and my impression is that Japanese courts and sentencing are rather European. This is not surprising given that Japanese legal system was heavily influenced by French and German concepts.

I have some direct knowledge of the UK pattern. A friend crashed her car into two others. She was well over the legal limit. She got a stiff fine and was banned from driving for one year. She was neither famous nor wealthy.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Today  09:50 am JST

Red or green light, the right of way always belongs to the pedestrian.

Jail time is in order here, I'd agree. But pedestrians do not have the right of way at crossings controlled by crossing signals, when the pedestrian signal says stop.

You can test this in front of any koban at a traffic lights. Step out when the cars have the green light. If the cars don't get you, the policeman probably will.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Red or green light, the right of way always belongs to the pedestrian. Plus she was drunk and ran away.

Jailtime is in order

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I support Yubaru's view, the pedestrian light would have been red whilst the right-turn traffic signal was green. It in no way excuses the driver's behaviour, but the pedestrians' behaviour was contributory.

They probably watched the main traffic light turn red but didn't factor in that the right turn traffic light goes green straight after that and pedestrian light is held at red at such junctions.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I saw the video of the incident! I was very shocked at the whole incident. I also believe there is no way she can get out of this one. Her fame can't help her this time because it was shown to the public and everyone saw what she did. The police knows that if she were to be let off with a slap on the wrist after paying some money and tears, there might be an uproar from the public.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The light for cars was on the far side of the intersection. Cars going straight stop, and cars making a right turn (not plowing straight through the far side crosswalk) can turn right. The pedestrian light on the far of the intersection would have been green.

Yes, cars going straight are supposed to stop, and you are dead wrong if you think that pedestrians would have had the walk signal in their favor while the turn arrow, for the people in the far right lane, still was green for traffic to turn right, as they would be walking across the lane that was for cars turning right!

Yoshizawa ran straight through a red light at speed when only right turning cars can pass.

Never said she didn't, but there should never have been pedestrians in the walk way either. It does not remove any guilt from her, but those pedestrians were technically j-walking too!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

In all my time in this country I have never understood the purpose of having a celebrity that has committed an offense walk out in front of a hundred or so cameras and apologize. Is it to humiliate the celeb for having the temerity to not be a paragon of virtue?

Misplaced sympathy here...

Maybe it's because, unlike, say... the USA, celebrities here are expected to maintain a certain image, free of scandal. Celebrities are among the most privileged people society, and the reap rewards and honors far beyond their actual contributions. So it's not unreasonable to expect that they avoid scandal. It's not a high price to pay.

The USA, on the other hand, tends to reward celebrities who express attitude, cause scandals and even commit crimes (from a list of acceptable crimes). So they have sleazy role models that the kids can grow up to emulate.

Meanwhile in Japan, the celebrity is apologizing in hopes that the audience will forgive her and she can go back to her overpaid existence as modern day royalty.

Celebrities are selling a fantasy. It's about that more than it's about talent. And the fantasy is not one of a drunken woman who runs down innocent pedestrians and then drives away.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In all my time in this country I have never understood the purpose of having a celebrity that has committed an offense walk out in front of a hundred or so cameras and apologize. Is it to humiliate the celeb for having the temerity to not be a paragon of virtue?

Also, there seems to be quite a few virtue signalers in this comment section.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

We should learn from this accident. Every one should look to their right, left, and right AGAIN before crossing any road, EVEN though the pedestrian light turned green. Drivers who beat the red light can be drunk, tired, in a hurry and a hundred more reasons. And maybe, just maybe, some of us are guilty of this.

Train yourself and your children (especially the elementary kids as they walk by themselves morning and afternoon) to look at their right, left, right BEFORE crossing ANY road.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Michael JacksonToday  07:25 am JST

She will get a suspended sentence because this is Japan and she's a celebrity but I suspect they'll be a big payoff to the victims and a fake tearful apology on TV at some point if she hasn't already

I wouldn't be surprised. If it happens, this will be very hypocritical on the part of the Japanese authorities who have sent others to the nick for less. If I were the victim's father, that bow and tears won't work for me. If she thinks she's sorry, how about the damage done to that victim and the victim's family whom she tore apart due to her incompetence?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

For those saying she is going to go free after paying the victims, while that often happens here it is already too late in the process for it. Pre indictment the police are given a lot of discretion to allow that to happen particularly in accident cases like this where a suspect makes restitution and shows remorse. But once the suspect has been indicted they lose that discretion and she is almost certain to be convicted. She still might not face prison time depending on the sentencing but she will at least have a record and be under some form of probation.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Watching the video, I was amazed the bicyclist wasn't more seriously injured or killed. In that regard, this Morning-After Musume was very lucky.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If you see the video, you will notice other pedestrians continue walking without helping. That is what hours of police questioning and interrogation will make witnesses do. Something needs to change.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Anyone else in this mess would be serving jail time. She won't, I bet.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Wakarimasen  And she used to be so sweet........

I suppose she's tired of pretending

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Give have 20 years to serve example

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

And she used to be so sweet........

0 ( +0 / -0 )

To the judge who hears her case, prove us wrong That Celebrity Status equals suspended sentence. If this was me, we all know where I'd be right now.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

She also allegedly injured a male pedestrian

Presumably the guy knocked over by the bicycle she hit and sent flying. This is one "allegation" I chose to believe.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

As papigiulio said - this can't end in a suspended sentence.

Drunken driving has been rightfully demonized by police, govt, media and society in general.

It's at the top of the social demeanors list esp when factors such as running red lights, hitting pedestrians is configured.

No way she will escape sentencing.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

drunk driving, driving through a red light, over the speed limit, hit and run......this cant and should not end up in a suspended sentence. She should be punished to the fullest extent.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Speeding, running a red light and driving under the influence resulting in the injury of two pedestrians and then, left the scene. She would be facing a couple of years in the pen and a ten year ban on driving where I come from.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I initially thought the same thing Yubaru but it was pointed out to me as Beerdelivery \Guy just did.

She does deserve time in the big house but we all know she wont.

It will dissapear along with how all other scandals dissapear here in Japan.

$$$$$......

Move along, nothing to see here.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

the pedestrians were crossing the street while the light was red AND the green right turn arrow was still on.

The light for cars was on the far side of the intersection. Cars going straight stop, and cars making a right turn (not plowing straight through the far side crosswalk) can turn right. The pedestrian light on the far of the intersection would have been green.

Yoshizawa ran straight through a red light at speed when only right turning cars can pass.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The 33-year-old was driving at a speed of 86 kilometers per hour in a 60 kph zone before the accident, according to investigative sources.

Maybe so, but she sure as hell did not hit those people at that speed, if she had, it would have killed them!

Videos of her going through the red light have been all over the news, and if people pay close attention to the lights at the time, the pedestrians were crossing the street while the light was red AND the green right turn arrow was still on.

She looks guilty as hell, and here in Japan the pedestrians have the right of way on all roads with the exception of the toll roads, so she will end up paying for it, but this won't go to court, and she will lost her license and pay a hefty fine, and unless the people actually file charges against her, she won't see the inside of a jail.

Her bank account is going to get quite a bit lighter though! Here is a youtube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85k1BkAgpyo

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

My crystal ball is telling me a payoff followed by a suspended sentence and a deep bow.

Justice has different meanings in different places . . .

8 ( +11 / -3 )

She will get a suspended sentence because this is Japan and she's a celebrity but I suspect they'll be a big payoff to the victims and a fake tearful apology on TV at some point if she hasn't already

1 ( +1 / -0 )

She deserves some jail time but I expect she’ll get the female celebrity pass.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

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