Man charged over death of girlfriend in Tokyo apartment in August

Police in Tokyo have charged a 26-year-old man with fatally assaulting his 25-year-old girlfriend at their apartment in August.

According to police, Ryotaro Masuda is accused of assaulting his girlfriend Yui Murata between the end of July and mid-August, punching her in the face and lips, at the apartment in Hiroo, Shibuya Ward, Sankei Shimbun reported.

Murata was found dead in the apartment on Aug 30, police said. There were multiple bruises on her face and body, and the cause of death was traumatic shock, an autopsy revealed.

Several images of the woman's swollen face and chipped teeth were found on the woman's smartphone.

Masuda was arrested on Aug 31, and stated, "We got into an argument over the temperature of the room, and I hit her in the face."

The two are believed to have met around 2021 and have been living together since May of this year.

Police said they have learned that Masuda regularly used violence against Murata to force her to engage in "sugar dating,” in which older men gave her money for dates. Masuda would use the money for making private investments, police said.

Murata's diary is said to have included statements such as "I must absolutely obey everything Ryotaro says."

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