Sagamihara student death: three boys sent to family court, one not indicted
In short
On October 9, Yokohama prosecutors sent three of four boys aged 16 to 17, arrested on suspicion of murdering 17-year-old high school student Setsuna Shimizu (清水刹那) in Sagamihara in August, to the Yokohama Family Court, and decided not to indict the fourth. One was sent on suspicion of injury resulting in death and two on suspicion of injury. Yomiuri Shimbun reported the boys told investigators they chased and assaulted the victim believing a motorbike had been stolen, though it had not been.
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On October 9, the Yokohama District Public Prosecutors Office sent three of four boys aged 16 to 17, who had been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of a second-year high school student in Sagamihara in August, to the Yokohama Family Court, and decided not to indict the fourth. One boy was sent on suspicion of injury resulting in death and two on suspicion of injury. Prosecutors said the decision was based on the relevant evidence. The family court ordered protective detention for all three until the 22nd. Sankei Shimbun reported that the three will go through juvenile hearings and will be sent back to prosecutors if criminal punishment is judged appropriate. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
The incident occurred at around 2:40 a.m. on August 22 at a vacant lot in Tana, Chuo Ward, Sagamihara, according to Sankei Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun and Livedoor News. Kanagawa Prefectural Police re-arrested the four in September on suspicion of murdering Setsuna Shimizu (清水刹那), then 17. They had earlier been arrested on suspicion of injuring a second-year junior high school boy who was with Shimizu; over that case, prosecutors sent two to family court and did not indict two. Yomiuri Shimbun described the scene as a farm road in Chuo Ward and reported that the two boys sent on injury suspicions were accused of injuring both Shimizu and the junior high school student, aged 14, who was riding the motorbike with him. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
Yomiuri Shimbun, citing investigative sources, reported that the boys, who live in Sagamihara, said they thought a motorbike had been stolen and chased the victim by car before assaulting him. The motorbike had not actually been stolen, and police are investigating on the view that the boys acted on a one-sided mistaken belief. According to the sources, the boys saw Shimizu leaving the grounds of a housing complex in the city with companions on two motorbikes, chased them by car for several minutes and caught up with them near the farm road. Nippon TV headlines said the arrested boys allegedly picked a one-sided quarrel before the assault. [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]
Yomiuri Shimbun also reported that Shimizu, who lived in Midori Ward, Sagamihara, had a mark on the crown of his head from a hard blow with a blunt object, believed to be the fatal injury. Police found and seized a blunt object believed to have been used in the assault in Kanagawa Prefecture, and seized the car the boys had been riding in Tokyo. [ 7 ]
Why it matters
The three boys were sent to family court on suspicion of injury resulting in death and injury rather than murder, the suspicion they had been arrested on. Sankei Shimbun reported the three will go through juvenile hearings and could be sent back to prosecutors if criminal punishment is judged appropriate.
Key facts
- On October 9, the Yokohama District Public Prosecutors Office sent three of four boys aged 16 to 17 to the Yokohama Family Court and decided not to indict the fourth. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- One boy was sent on suspicion of injury resulting in death and two on suspicion of injury; the four had been arrested on suspicion of murder. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- Prosecutors said the decision was based on the relevant evidence. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The family court ordered protective detention for all three until the 22nd. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- The incident occurred at around 2:40 a.m. on August 22 in Tana, Chuo Ward, Sagamihara; the victim was Setsuna Shimizu, then 17, a second-year high school student. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kanagawa Prefectural Police re-arrested the four in September on suspicion of murder. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reported the boys said they chased the victim by car believing a motorbike had been stolen, though it had not been. [ 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Yokohama prosecutors sent three of the four arrested boys to the Yokohama Family Court on October 9, one on suspicion of injury resulting in death and two on suspicion of injury, and did not indict the fourth. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The family court ordered protective detention for the three until the 22nd. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- The victim was Setsuna Shimizu, a 17-year-old second-year high school student in Sagamihara. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- The four boys had earlier been arrested on suspicion of injuring a junior high school student who was with Shimizu. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Why prosecutors did not indict the fourth boy and why the suspicions were changed from murder. Prosecutors said only that the decision was based on the relevant evidence.
- The exact scene of the assault. Sankei Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun and Livedoor News describe a vacant lot in Tana, Chuo Ward, while Yomiuri Shimbun describes a farm road in Chuo Ward.
- The motive that the boys mistakenly believed a motorbike had been stolen. This comes from Yomiuri Shimbun citing investigative sources; Nippon TV headlines say the boys allegedly picked a one-sided quarrel, and no other outlet gives details.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- August 22: the assault occurs in Tana, Chuo Ward, Sagamihara. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- October 9: Nippon TV reports the arrested boys allegedly picked a one-sided quarrel. [ 1 ]
- October 9: Sankei Shimbun reports three boys sent to family court and one not indicted. [ 3 ]
- October 10: Yomiuri Shimbun reports the boys said they chased the victim believing a motorbike had been stolen. [ 7 ]