crime

Man arrested for shoving commuter off train platform in Osaka

24 Comments

Police in Osaka have arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder after he shoved a 63-year-old man off the train platform onto the tracks at JR Tennoji Station.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police said the suspect, Yasuyuki Onishi, a company employee from Nara City, has admitted to the charge and quoted him as saying he got angry after the man bumped into his shoulder, Kyodo News reported.

Police said witnesses saw Onishi shove the man off the platform about three minutes before a train was due in on the JR Kansai Line. A police officer on his way to work subdued Onishi while other commuters were able to help the man back up onto the platform. Police said he suffered only minor injuries to his legs.

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24 Comments
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The difference between assault and attempted murder has to do with the likelihood that the action will result in death and how obvious that risk of death is.

If I cold-cock you on the jaw, you’re most likely going to live. It’s not guaranteed, but the likelihood of you dying is low. That’s assault

If I sank a knife into your chest, you’re a lot more likely to die. And I should know that. That’s attempted murder.

Shoving an old man to the ground on the train platform isn’t likely to kill him. That’s assault.

Shoving him off the platform and onto the tracks, where trains go, is much more likely to result in him dying. That’s attempted murder.

As for the whole “the train was three minutes away” argument, here’s a thought experiment. Let’s say I have a revolver and I load a single round. Then I put it to your forehead and start to pull the trigger. At that moment, the police burst in and arrest me.

I get charged with attempted murder and go before the judge and my defense is “You can’t charge me with attempted murder. The round was still a full three chambers away from firing. It’s assault at worst”.

Does that sound like a valid defense?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The reason he’s being charged with attempted murder is because of WHERE he pushed the man to. He pushed him if the tracks and onto the rails. It’s not a leap of logic to infer that he pushed the man into the tracks because he hoped he would then be hit by the train. The amount of time till the train was due to arrive isn’t relevant. He pushed the man onto the tracks in the hopes that he would be run over.

If he had simply shoved the man to the ground for bumping him, that’s assault. But he took the deliberate step of pushing him onto the tracks. That shows that he intended for more than just knocking the guy over. He wanted him to be hit by the train. And deliberately putting someone in a position where they risk being killed is attempted murder. He doesn’t get bonus points for leaving a three-minute gap.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Shiboritate

Was I the one throwing the ball? Wow, what a crazy thing to say.

How do I know? I read the article, its on this website so go check it out.

You have a problem with not being to debate things without being offensive my friend.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Lucky this happened in Osaka where people actually having beating hearts. If this happened in Tokyo its 50/50 whether or not someone will help the victim off the tracks. As for the man who did the shoving, angry much? All that repressed rage and resentment finally came bubbling to surface. Jail time to cool him off, I gather.

Yup. You're right about that. That's one of many reasons why I like the Kansai region.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Come on attempted murder?

Yes. It should be an instant attempted murder charge.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Sorry your left with that view of my earlier post @GBR48 3:57am (JST) but sufficient railing & protective barriers are lacking at a significant number of stops where patrons, and even blind people, have been pushed or fallen onto the rails.

From recent news, they have significant power & profits to install these necessary preventitive measures. Plus, their greed was also highlighted earlier with such obvious contempt & disregard for their own employees:

Apr 20, 2022: - https://japantoday.com/category/national/Train-driver-awarded-¥56-in-docked-wages-for-1-minute-delay

Correction to the above: … “posthumously awarded” … (What a slap in the face to his family.) -

Nov 11, ‘21: - https://japantoday.com/category/national/Train-driver-sues-JR-West-for-deducted-salary-over-one-minute-delay

@GBR48 3:57am: “Why blame the rail company?”*

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@thepersoniamnow

"And yeah he wasn’t aiming at or threw it near anyone apparently."

How do you know this fact? Were you the one throwing the bowling ball??

3 ( +6 / -3 )

..snowymountainhell. ..JR needs to be held responsible.

Why blame the rail company? None of their employees pushed him off the platform. Do you want a rail employee every 10 yards down the platform to ensure this never happens?

There is a weird, ridiculous trend of blaming companies and people for things they haven't done.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Of course this is attempted murder and also the completed crime attempt not only planned one, as well caught at the scene, Everyone at the age of 50 , even the lower IQ ones , know that it is not allowed and a dangerous threat of someone other’s life to intentionally shove that person onto any rails, regardless of any remaining time by timetables or usual schedules. There could also appear another unnoticed train, a maintenance train, a too early train, at some kinds of rails or places even is a continuous very high voltage, and so on, whatever. Only some few mentally very sick persons could be released from a responsibility for such a crime of attempted murder.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

It would be attempted murder if that was his intention

I guess it is defined differently in different countries. Where I live (Scotland), it is defined the same way as murder except that victim did not die. And even if there was no intent to kill, if the action "displays wicked recklessness" it is also treated as attempted murder. Throwing someone on a train track where trains regularly run can probably be described as "wicked recklessness".

I'm not certain of how it defined in Japan.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

And yeah he wasn’t aiming at or threw it near anyone apparently.

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

Agree with those who wonder why the charge is attempted murder.

Look, it’s not that anyone is downplaying what he did.

Tossing someone down 6 feet onto iron tracks and rocks is already something.

But attempted murder is odd to me because he didn’t try to kill anyone. That is the literal definition of the word in English. Last week some guy tossed a bowling ball onto the street from his apartment 4-5 floors up.

He also got charged with attempted murder.

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

HBJ...

He clearly knew he was in a train station. It's common knowledge that trains run on the tracks. The guy pushed the man onto the tracks - where the trains come.

It would be attempted murder if that was his intention, but missing the train but THREE minutes doesn't make this very likely. He would also have to be a complete clown to admit to this... but who knows, pushing people off the platform isn't usually what the smart people do.

-13 ( +5 / -18 )

Come on attempted murder? with the train 3 minutes away? It was an assault, charge him for that.

Do you think in that split second the man looked up at the station signage, clocked the time of the next train, looked at the current time, and made the calculation that the next train due was 3 minutes away?

He clearly knew he was in a train station. It's common knowledge that trains run on the tracks. The guy pushed the man onto the tracks - where the trains come.

So yes, attempted murder.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

well done Osaka commuters!

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Come on attempted murder? with the train 3 minutes away? It was an assault, charge him for that.

-15 ( +5 / -20 )

Probably this is one of the strongest fears for some people, one irrational caveman is all it takes for someone to get seriously hurt by the fall or even worse if a train is coming. It was fortunate that in this case the injuries were minor.

Hopefully Onishi will spend a lot of time behind bars thinking about his actions.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Wow! Snaaaaap! He’s lucky he’s only being charged with attempted murder. A couple of minutes later it could have been a murder charge.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Lucky this happened in Osaka where people actually having beating hearts. If this happened in Tokyo its 50/50 whether or not someone will help the victim off the tracks. As for the man who did the shoving, angry much? All that repressed rage and resentment finally came bubbling to surface. Jail time to cool him off, I gather.

11 ( +18 / -7 )

Sorry for any of this ruffian’s family but he needs to be up punished to the full extent sentencing will allow to set the example.

JR needs to be held responsible for any injuries and not providing for the safety of those waiting for trains.

Here’s hoping the victim can recover from his injuries soon.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Hurray for all those heroes present putting their lives endanger to rescue the victim. There are good people here, even in rush hour.

19 ( +21 / -2 )

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