Okinawa police arrest ex-boyfriend over murder of 23-year-old woman
In short
Okinawa prefectural police arrested a 25-year-old unemployed man, Nakamura Hibiki, on suspicion of murdering his former girlfriend, 23-year-old Zamami Rin, who was found stabbed at an apartment in Ginowan City on September 30. Police had issued the suspect a prohibition order under the anti-stalking law in February after the woman reported stalking, and on September 20 a tracking tag was found attached to her car. The suspect, who had been hospitalised after being found injured in Naha, was discharged on October 7 and arrested the same day; he admitted the charge, police said.
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Okinawa prefectural police arrested a 25-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of murdering his former girlfriend, a 23-year-old woman, in Ginowan City, the prefectural police said. The man was named in several reports as Nakamura Hibiki, 25. Police said he admitted the charge; Yahoo! News quoted him as saying “there is no mistake.” [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
According to police accounts, the woman was attacked with a sharp object at an apartment in Ginowan’s Kakazu 2-chome at around 8:30 a.m. on September 30 and died. Asahi Shimbun reported that an autopsy found the cause of death was blood loss and that she had wounds on her arms consistent with defending herself. Police seized a bloodstained knife and a rental car and were analysing them, Asahi reported. [ 5 , 7 , 8 ]
The suspect was found injured in Naha, about five kilometres southwest of the scene, roughly an hour after the attack, bleeding from areas including his neck, and was taken to hospital, according to police accounts. Nippon TV reported on the evening of October 7 that police had been questioning him voluntarily while he was hospitalised and planned to arrest him once the suspicion was solid. Livedoor News, Mainichi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun reported that he was discharged on the afternoon of October 7 and arrested. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
The documents describe a history of reported stalking before the killing. The woman asked Ginowan police in December last year to stop the calls and LINE messages from her former partner, and police warned him that month, Yomiuri reported. Police issued a prohibition order against him under the anti-stalking law in February, according to Mainichi, Yomiuri, Asahi and Livedoor News. On September 20, a tracking tag that can reveal a location was found attached to the woman’s car; she reported it, and police suspected the arrested man was involved and were investigating a possible stalking-law violation, Asahi and Yomiuri reported. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Police said they will investigate the circumstances and motive behind the case in detail, according to Livedoor News. The documents do not state what the suspect has said about a motive, and they give no account of how he was injured before he was found. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The case draws attention to how anti-stalking measures worked in practice: the woman had consulted police from late last year and a prohibition order was issued in February, yet the killing followed in September. Documents say police are investigating whether the suspect attached a tracking tag to her car and whether that constituted a further stalking-law violation.
Key facts
- Okinawa prefectural police arrested a 25-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of murdering a 23-year-old woman in Ginowan City. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The woman was attacked on the morning of September 30 at an apartment and died of her injuries. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Police said the suspect admitted the charge, quoting him as saying “there is no mistake.” [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 9 ]
- The woman had consulted police about stalking by her former partner since late last year, and police issued a warning in December and a prohibition order under the anti-stalking law in February. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- On September 20, a tracking tag was found attached to the woman’s car; police suspect the arrested man was involved. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- The suspect was found injured in Naha about an hour after the attack, was hospitalised, and was arrested after being discharged on the afternoon of October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reported that the autopsy found the cause of death was blood loss and that the woman had defensive wounds on her arms, and that police seized a bloodstained knife and a rental car. [ 7 ]
- Police said they will investigate the circumstances and motive behind the incident. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Police arrested the woman’s former boyfriend, aged 25, on suspicion of murder. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The suspect admitted the charge. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 9 ]
- The victim had reported stalking by her former partner to police, and a prohibition order under the anti-stalking law was issued in February. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The 23-year-old woman was killed on the morning of September 30 at an apartment in Ginowan City. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The suspect was found injured in Naha, was hospitalised, and was discharged on the afternoon of October 7 before being arrested. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- The motive and the sequence of events leading to the killing. Documents say police will investigate the circumstances and motive; no motive has been established.
- Whether the suspect attached the tracking tag found on the woman’s car, and whether that constitutes a stalking-law violation. Police are reported as saying involvement is possible or highly likely, but no determination is stated; Asahi and Yomiuri report an investigation is ongoing and the suspect has not been confirmed as the person who attached it.
- How and where the suspect was injured before he was found. Documents state only that he was found injured and bleeding from the neck area and was treated; the cause of the injuries is not given.
- Details of the victim’s earlier consultations and any police action between the February order and the killing. Documents mention the December consultation, the December warning and the February prohibition order but give no further detail on what police did in between.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The woman asks Ginowan police to stop repeated phone calls and LINE messages from her former partner; police issue the man a warning, according to Yomiuri. [ 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Police issue a prohibition order against the man under the anti-stalking law. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- A tracking tag is found attached to the woman’s car; she reports it to police, who suspect the man was involved. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- The woman is attacked with a sharp object at an apartment in Ginowan City and dies. [ 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- About an hour after the attack, the man is found injured in Naha, roughly 5 km southwest of the scene, and is taken to hospital. [ 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The man is discharged from hospital; police question him voluntarily, according to Nippon TV, and then arrest him. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
- The man is arrested on suspicion of murder and admits the charge, police say. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 9 ]