crime

Suspect in murder of woman at Yokosuka hotel refuses to talk to police

30 Comments

Police in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, said Monday that the suspect in the murder of a 22-year-old woman at a hotel is refusing to talk.

The victim, Miho Kato, was found stabbed to death in the lounge of a small business hotel on June 28. Police alleged that Kato's ex-boyfriend, Toshio Otani, 43, stabbed her to death with a pair of scissors, but he has so far refused to discuss his involvement in the crime, Fuji TV reported.

Police said that in June 2013, Otani was arrested for nearly strangling Kato to death after they broke up. In August, he received a one-year jail term, suspended for four years.

Kato moved to a new location and submitted a request to authorities to have her address kept private. However, in May of this year, Otani began bothering Kato at the bar where she worked and repeatedly harassed her, Fuji reported.

Police said that around 8:30 a.m. on the morning of June 28, Otani showed up at Kato's apartment, which is beside the hotel. After a violent argument, police said Kato fled into the hotel, chased by Otani who attacked her with a pair of scissors.

Police said the victim had about 50 stab wounds.

Otani, who was arrested at the scene, has remained silent, only saying, "I don't want to talk about it," Fuji quoted police as saying.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

30 Comments
Login to comment

hang him by his feet until he does talk to him

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Otani began bothering Kato at the bar where she worked and repeatedly harassed her, Fuji reported.

more like a kabakura establishment than a bar.

and getting a suspended sentence for stangling someone is ridiculous. the courts failed this girl in this case.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Do you need his statement, pretty clear case of murder.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Isn't there something more that can be done, since even alerting authorities doesn't seem to be working for those who feel a sense of mortal danger?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I think it is time for the oops he slipped in his cell routine,

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

At least now he might seve that one year, unless he gets another suspended sentence.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Refreshing to see an alleged perp who doesn't immdeiately confess all and blame it on stress or some other ridiculous excuse.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I'm so glad that every one thinks has a right to be innocent until proven guilty as most people here seem to think is right the right thing to do. Also if you get arrested I would suggest that you be as wise as he and not say any thing, because it only helps you to get into more trouble.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

If guilty then he may eventually be suspended.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Watched a lecture by a (former?) law professor and a police investigator. His advice was, if you are ever in a situation with police, not to talk. "Anything you say can and will be used against you". Not for you. It was an interesting video. Not saying the guy in this story is "good" or "smart" for saying silent, but from his point of view I can understand his decision.

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc]

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Police in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, said Monday that the suspect in the murder of a 22-year-old woman at a hotel is refusing to talk."

Wow Yokosuka, quite a few nice business hotels in that place () also where the US navy's 7th fleet is located,

0 ( +0 / -0 )

However, in May of this year, Otani began bothering Kato at the bar where she worked and repeatedly harassed her, Fuji reported.

And why was this not an immediate violation of his suspended sentence? How is it we are being informed of this "fact?" It certainly didn't come from Ms. Kato or Otani.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Kato moved to a new location and submitted a request to authorities to have her address kept private.

Very reassuring that in Japan you have to request this. No wonder the Jehovah's witnesses find me every time I change address.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think that the police can keep him in custody for quite a while yet.( I am not sure at all in this instance, but perhaps) the police have arrested this man on charges other than murder, and each time they rearrest him for more and more serious charges, they can keep him for another ten (or is it twenty) days and keep him in the interrogation room for all that time. And perhaps at some point in that time he will break silence, and perhaps he will admit/say that he murdered the victim. If he does say/admit that he murdered the victim will that be a lie, a frame, a travesty of justice? Or are we glad that the Japanese police can keep him in the interrogation room until he says/admits?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What I find interesting is that many people seem to complain about the use of a 'forced' confession yet there are many here who are demanding just that. While this case seems pretty straightforward as to who the guilty party is, It's a slippery slope if you allow these tactics to stand. I say that they should investigate every possible angle and not just rely on a confession.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Glad to see him not talking, let the police do some real police work (like collect evidence) and then put him away for a long time.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Surely there were some staff in the hotel 'lounge' around 8.30am. Did anyone try to help the lady?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Surely there were some staff in the hotel 'lounge' around 8.30am. Did anyone try to help the lady?

@serendipitous Yeah it surprises me that nobody bothered to help the girl. I guess it's common in Japan for people to turn a blind eye when bad things are happening. This was so serious as she had 50stab wounds but no one came to her assistance.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@timtak

Great definition of the J on J system.

This should be a global alert!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well the burden of proof lies with the prosecution does it not? Not surprised he refuses to talk as I'm sure most crooks would be the same if faced with similar charges

Hopefully the police can make a good case against him

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I say that they should investigate every possible angle and not just rely on a confession.

Part of Japan's fetish for confessions is the demonstration, to the public, by the authorities of their authority.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What's wrong? Can't the Japanese police prosecute without a confession?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What's wrong? Can't the Japanese police prosecute without a confession?

They can, but that would take actual police work and be less satisfying to the public.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I say that they should investigate every possible angle and not just rely on a confession.

But that would mean they would have to do some actual police work. More practical to rely on confessions all the time. Speaking of confessions, don't they need to be investigated in Japan. Can a perp just confess and be found guilty, even without proof? Don't think that flies where I am from. In this case, there must be a lot of other evidence to rely on, no? Blood splatter, DNA on the scissors, etc... They do have crime technicians in Japan, don't they?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I would assume in this case there is a mountain of evidence, quite likely a hotel video, if not of the actual corner of the room where he stabbed her, then of entering moments before the stabbing. As well as DNA, blood, etc.

However, in most other cases, yes, as many say, we want more real investigation and not roughshod police confessions. Japan is like a communist country w/ everyone kept toeing the line and envious of small benefits another may have, and then the obfuscation, hiding and finally the self-criticism and public castigation that all of that entails. In crime, this all feeds into an immense pressure to confess, both internally on the part of the suspect, and externally from the cops and society, and a self-righteous yappari feeling of superiority and condemnation when the confession comes. It's a dramatic enactment for everyone's ego and has nothing to do with truth or crime anymore. It's all to support everyone's place in the show. It doesn't matter if the suspect did it or not, an actor for the role has been found...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Kato moved to a new location and submitted a request to authorities to have her address kept private. However, in May of this year, Otani began bothering Kato at the bar where she worked and repeatedly harassed her, Fuji reported.

Does this mean she had a restraining order? Wouldn't approaching her at all be in violation of his sentence in which she could go to police?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think that's two different things. It is fairly easy to get someone's address from the public offices, I believe. And that sounds like she just wanted hers kept secret. They say restraining order when there is a restraining order.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@Knox Harrington Confession is everythinghere its all yhey need and its easy to do their job. A cops job is to put people in gaol.

Police here can arrest you for up to 28 days without letting contact to anybody except if you ask for the duty lawyer (toban bengoshi) who is not able to do much except tell your family and hopefully get youa paid solicitor.

All gaijin should know this sopls study.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Police here can arrest you for up to 28 days without letting contact to anybody

It's actually 24 (or 48) hours, plus up to two 10-day extensions, that need to be approved by a judge.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

You may be right but I was sure I read it worked out to 28 days, maybe I have to study again.

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