This week, the prosecution in the case of a murder of a 17-year-old girl in Hokkaido came out with its sentencing recommendation. Japanese social media reacted by clamoring for the accused woman’s blood. But, while the facts of the case are heinous, the prosecutor’s decision not to seek the death penalty is grounded in long-standing precedent.
Murdered for looking at the accused wrong
Uchida Riko (内田梨瑚), 23, and her friends stand accused of murdering 17-year-old Murayama Runa (村山瑠奈) in Hokkaido’s Asahikawa. Prosecutors say the dispute began after Murayama posted a photo of Uchida to social media. They say Uchida’s group abducted the girl, made her undress, and then forced her to jump from a bridge.
One co-defendant, Konishi Yūka (小西優花), has already been sentenced to 23 years in jail for participating in the crime. Uchida admits she harassed and kidnapped the victim but denies murdering her. However, Konishi testified that she saw Uchida push Murayama’s shoulders with both hands.
The case has been controversial, not just because of its senseless nature, but because members of the Asahikawa police were accused of having an overly familiar relationship with the local thug. One detective who allegedly had an affair with Uchida lost his job.
Is 27 years “grotesquely lenient”?
Using Japan’s victim participation system, the surviving family told the court and prosecutors they wanted “the harshest punishment possible.” Many observers hoped that would mean at least lifetime imprisonment or possibly even the death penalty.
Instead, prosecutors asked for a 27-year sentence. That means Uchida would be free in her early 50s.
Reaction online was swift and critical. On social media site X, over 95% of the comments called for a harsher punishment, saying 27 years was far too lenient.
“If the justice system isn’t going to function, then please at least allow the bereaved family to take revenge,” said one comment with over 20,000 likes.
“The victim died at 17,” said another with over 14,000 likes. “The idea that this person gets to restart her life at 50 is absolutely unacceptable.”
“Unlike her accomplice, who fully accepted her guilt, this defendant shows no sign of remorse and even shifts the blame onto the victim and her accomplice,” another argued. “Expecting her to be rehabilitated is hopeless.”
A recommendation in line with precedent
Despite the outrage, the sentence recommendation is in line with what prosecutors in Japan typically request in such a case.
Japan’s Supreme Court laid out sentencing guidelines in murder cases in 1983, in their ruling on the Nagayama Norio multiple-shooting case. Prosecutors use these guidelines, the Nagayama Criteria (永山基準), when making sentencing requests.
The Nagayama Criteria weigh nine separate factors. Of these, the most important is the gravity of the outcome – i.e., the number of people killed. Typically, the murder of a single person will earn a finite sentence or, potentially, life imprisonment. If there are two victims, prosecutors may or may not ask for the death penalty. If there are three or more victims (as in, for example, the Aum Shinrikyo sarin gas attack), many prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
It’s likely that prosecutors opted for a time-limited sentence here given the dispute and conflicting accounts over who was ultimately responsible for the victim’s death. In social media’s eyes, however, Uchida’s denial of her crime is just a signal that she lacks remorse and refuses to take responsibility.
Uchida wrote a letter of apology to Murayama’s family, apologizing for her “part” in the girl’s death. The family refused to accept it.
Uchida Riko will be sentenced on June 22nd. Given the prosecutor’s request, it’s likely the final sentence will come at or below the requested 27 years.
Keep reading
Sources
内田被告に懲役２７年求刑 女子高生殺害、「尊厳踏みにじり残虐」―弁護側は実行行為を否定・旭川地裁 時事通信 (Jiji.com)
「落ちろ」「死ね」100回超 落下時「内田被告が押した」 旭川高校生殺害公判 共謀者が証言 北海道新聞デジタル
旭川女子高生殺害、23歳女に懲役27年求刑 「尊厳踏みにじり悪質」 日本経済新聞
【速報】内田梨瑚被告（23）に懲役27年を求刑【旭川女子高校生殺害】 HBCニュース北海道（Yahoo!ニュース）
懲役27年求刑 遺族は「可能な限り厳しい刑罰を」17歳殺害裁判 朝日新聞（Yahoo!ニュース）
内田梨瑚被告が書いた女子高校生の遺族への手紙「何度も謝ってもらいましたが私は一度も謝ることができませんでした。これからの人生奪いごめんなさい。受刑者になっても気持ちは忘れません」受け取りは拒否される UHB