A woman and her parents were served fresh arrest warrants on Monday for allegedly murdering a man who was found decapitated in a hotel in Sapporo, northern Japan, last month, according to local police.
Runa Tamura, 29, and her father, Osamu, a 59-year-old psychiatrist, were first arrested on July 24 on suspicion of mutilating and abandoning a corpse. Runa's mother, Hiroko, 60, was arrested on the same charges the next day.
The police did not reveal whether the family members have admitted to the charges.
The victim, identified as Hitoshi Ura, 62, was found naked and decapitated in a hotel in the Susukino entertainment district on July 2.
The police subsequently discovered his severed head in the bathroom at the Tamura residence, suspecting it was cut off post-mortem.
Ura checked into the hotel at around 10:50 p.m. on July 1 with an individual believed to be Runa. The individual was then seen leaving the hotel alone at about 2 a.m. the following day, according to the police.
Runa, believed to have been the only one at the crime scene, allegedly stabbed the victim several times in the neck in the hotel room, causing hemorrhagic shock, said the police.
Investigators believe Runa and Osamu together purchased a knife and a saw that likely were used in carrying out the crime. Her mother is also suspected as a potential accomplice.
They are looking into possible conflicts or issues between Runa and the victim prior to the incident.
© KYODO
10 Comments
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sakurasuki
From one charge to another so suspect can serve longer detention, typical Japan. It can be used for not only for real criminal but also innocent person.
Cards fan
Considering the man's head was found in their home, I'd say it's a safe bet they're not innocent.
Mark
Why is it almost always Sapporo or Saitama???
Strangerland
Is it? People say stuff like that on JT, but whenever someone else posts numbers, it turns out it's not proportionally more Saitama or Sapporo, and instead just posters who have a hangup about these places, repeating what you said, causing others to believe it, and repeat it, cycle repeats.
None of them have actually ever shown they knew what they were talking about though.
indigo
everything is "according to the police". since when do the police need to be trusted??
no evidence, just defamation and speculation without any alleged facts.
Garthgoyle
It's not. The crime section is all over Japan everyday.
garypen
It may not be an accurate reflection of the actual crime statistics by location. But, on this website, Saitama does seem to be disproportionately represented in crime-related articles.
I have no "hangup" about the place. I don't think I've ever been there. But, if there was a way to easily pore through all of the JT crime articles, and tally the locations mentioned, Saitama would be one of, if not the, most mentioned by name.
I wouldn't say Sapporo, though. I don't know why that city was mentioned. We're actually thinking of getting a home there for summers.
Jonathan Prin
The police did not reveal whether the family members have admitted to the charges.
Why hide that ? Of course each among the three must have stated something.
Police just asking for confession only, and not the facts.
The head could have easily been staying in the girls bedroom for some time.
The father may have just bought tools because daughter made up a story. It is plausible.
And the mother, staying at home, there is no information so far that would tell she is an accomplice.
Why not reveal all clues obtained so far ???
Do police think there are additional people involved ? If so say it !
winston
Iam always fascinated how you actually presume to know what anyone knows including yourself
Jolly good
winston
Neither is it always about Sapporo or Saitama or all over Japan everyday
Not once has any type of crime even remotely similar been reported like that in my area during the past 5 years