Prosecutors seek 12 years for man accused of slashing NHK party leader Tachibana
In short
Tokyo prosecutors asked the Tokyo District Court on Oct. 7 to sentence 宮西詩音, 32, to 12 years for the attempted murder of NHKから国民を守る党 leader 立花孝志, who was slashed with a nata in Kasumigaseki in March last year. The defense argued for five years, saying he had reflected, while prosecutors said he showed no intent to apologize. The court is due to deliver its ruling on Oct. 9.
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Prosecutors at the Tokyo District Court asked on Oct. 7 for a 12-year prison term for 宮西詩音, 32, unemployed, who is charged with attempted murder and a violation of the Swords and Firearms Control Law over a nata attack on 立花孝志, leader of the political group NHKから国民を守る党, several outlets reported. The defense argued for five years in the lay-judge trial, according to TBS NEWS DIG. Jiji Press and Sankei Shimbun reported that the court will hand down its ruling on Oct. 9. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
According to the indictment as reported by Sankei Shimbun, on March 14 last year the defendant swung a nata down at the area of 立花's head on a sidewalk in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, inflicting injuries that took about three weeks to heal. 立花 had come to the location for a street speech, the report said. [ 4 ]
Sankei Shimbun reported that the defendant said 「全て認めます」 at his first hearing. TBS NEWS DIG reported that prosecutors told the court he had shown 「何ら謝罪の意思ない」, while the defense said he had reflected that it was something he should not have done and asked for a five-year sentence. Sankei Shimbun's headline quoted the defendant as saying 「粛々と刑を受けるのみ」. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Sankei Shimbun reported that 立花, 59, attended the trial under the victim participation system, sat behind the prosecutors' seats and personally put questions to the defendant during questioning. Coverage carried by Yahoo! News Japan described the direct questioning of the defendant by 立花 as unusual for a courtroom. 立花 was indicted in November on a defamation charge concerning a former Hyogo prefectural assembly member who died after pursuing allegations about Governor Saito Motohiko, and his detention continues, Sankei Shimbun reported. [ 4 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The case concerns an attack with a bladed weapon on a party leader who was in the street for a speech, and the sentencing demand and defense request frame how the court weighs it. 立花 himself is in detention in a separate defamation case, and the documents indicate he took part in this trial under the victim participation system.
Key facts
- Prosecutors at the Tokyo District Court sought 12 years in prison for 宮西詩音, 32, unemployed, who is charged with attempted murder and a violation of the Swords and Firearms Control Law. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- According to the indictment, on March 14 last year he swung a nata at the head area of 立花孝志 on a sidewalk in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, causing injuries that took about three weeks to heal. [ 4 ]
- 立花 was at the location for a street speech, according to Sankei Shimbun. [ 4 ]
- The defendant admitted the charges at his first hearing, saying 「全て認めます」, Sankei Shimbun reported. [ 4 ]
- The defense asked for five years, saying he had reflected that he should not have done it, while prosecutors said he had shown no intent to apologize, according to TBS NEWS DIG. [ 5 ]
- The verdict is scheduled for Oct. 9, according to Jiji Press and Sankei Shimbun. [ 2 , 6 ]
- 立花, 59, attended the trial under the victim participation system, sat behind the prosecutors' seats and personally questioned the defendant, Sankei Shimbun reported. [ 4 , 7 ]
- 立花 was indicted in November on a defamation charge over a former Hyogo prefectural assembly member who died after pursuing allegations about Governor Saito Motohiko, and remains in detention, Sankei Shimbun reported. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the court will accept either the prosecution's 12-year request or the defense's five-year request. The documents report only the two requests and the Oct. 9 verdict date; no ruling is reported.
- The full context of the remark attributed to the defendant in Sankei Shimbun's headline, 「粛々と刑を受けるのみ」. It appears only in a headline with no article text, so when and to whom it was said is not stated.
- The date of the first hearing at which the defendant admitted the charges. Sankei Shimbun says he admitted the charges at the first hearing but gives no date; Yahoo! News Japan lists a related report dated 10/2 without stating that it was the first hearing.
- The detail of 立花's own defamation case and detention beyond the fact that he was indicted in November and remains detained. Only Sankei Shimbun in this set describes it, and only in summary form.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Tokyo Shimbun reports that prosecutors demanded 12 years for the unemployed man charged with attempted murder in the attack on 立花孝志. [ 1 ]
- Jiji Press reports the 12-year request and says the ruling is set for Oct. 9. [ 2 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reports the 12-year request at the Tokyo District Court. [ 3 ]
- Sankei Shimbun publishes the indictment details, the defendant's admission of the charges and 立花's attendance under the victim participation system. [ 4 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports the defense sought five years and that prosecutors said the defendant showed no intent to apologize. [ 5 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports the defendant's remark 「粛々と刑を受けるのみ」 and the Oct. 9 verdict date. [ 6 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan carries the TBS NEWS DIG report and links earlier coverage of the attack and of the court questioning. [ 7 ]