crime

Man arrested over murder of taxi driver in Akita

10 Comments

Police in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, said Monday they have arrested a 55-year-old part-time worker on suspicion of killing and robbing a taxi driver on Saturday night.

According to police, the suspect, Hotoshi Azumaya, called for a taxi to pick him up at the parking lot of Michi no Eki (roadside station) in Kazuno at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, Fuji TV reported.

Azumaya is suspected of getting into the taxi with the purpose of robbing the driver, Yoshitsugu Tanaka, 66, as the area was usually deserted at that time of night. Police said that video footage from the camera mounted inside the taxi showed a man in back, wearing a face mask, demanding money and then struggling with Tanaka.

Tanaka's body was found a few meters from his taxi with knife wounds to his stomach and head injuries. An autopsy revealed that Tanaka's head had been crushed.

Police believe that Azumaya prepared a getaway car for himself and drove over Tanaka's head as he fled the scene.

Azumaya works part-time at a nearby hotel and was at work until about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, police said.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

10 Comments
Login to comment

What a nasty piece of work, and for a few thousand yen?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Taxi drivers are becoming very common targets in Japan. It's time to start thinking about security for them

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Terrible! While he shouldn't be robbing anyone in the first place, why would he need to kill him!? Even if he stabbed him 'in the heat of the struggle', later running over his head!?! What a cold-blooded killer he proved himself to be. Lock him up for a LONG time.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Taxi drivers are becoming very common targets in Japan.

With hundreds of thousands of taxi rides in Japan every day, if not millions, 'common' is not really accurate.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

We don't get such heinous crimes like these in Akita. I agree with Kiwiboy - lock him up and throw away the key!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

We don't get such heinous crimes like these in Akita.

You don't? Did you read the byline of this article? Or the first sentence? Or even the headline, for that matter?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Now it's high time for taxi companies in Japan to further tighten up anti-crime measures.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Ive been to that place many times. Why are vending machines powered 24/7 but lights in a place like this are off at night?

I hope they give look him up for a long time!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

descendent

You don't? Did you read the byline of this article? Or the first sentence? Or even the headline, for that matter?

It was meant to reflect that crimes like these are rarely seen in Akita.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Form reading comments on other stories I'm surprised no- one's blamed the taxi driver yet. Anyway, poor guy, R.I.P.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites