Three years ago, a former SDF officer who was accused of murdering a police officer and robbing a handgun at a police station in Toyama City and killing a nearby guard was sentenced by the Toyama District Court on the 5th. It will be.

While the prosecution has sought the death penalty, lawyers have argued that life imprisonment is appropriate, and it will be interesting to see what the court will do.

In June 2018, former SDF officer Keidai Shimazu (24) killed Kenichi Inaizumi (46), who was an assistant police officer at the time, with a knife at a police station in Toyama City, robbed him of his pistol, and at a nearby elementary school. Shinichi Nakamura (68), a guard in front of the school gate, has been accused of murder-robbery and murder for shooting and killing him with his pistol.



At the lay judge trial that began in January, Shimadzu did not answer any questions, including not only prosecutors and judges, but also lawyers, and did not speak a word.



In the trial, there was a dispute over whether the crime of robbery and murder would be established, and the prosecution said that the crime of robbery and murder was established by attacking a police box for the purpose of robbing a pistol. I sought the death penalty.



On the other hand, the defense said, "I was willing to take a pistol after the police officer fell," and insisted that life imprisonment was appropriate, not for robbery murder but for murder and theft.



The judgment will be handed down at the Toyama District Court from 11:00 am on the 5th.

Defendant remains silent at trial

At the first trial on January 14, Shimazu did not answer when asked by the presiding judge for his name and occupation.



In subsequent hearings, he remained silent on questions from lawyers as well as prosecutors and judges.



Initially unscheduled during the trial, a recording of the interrogation during the investigation was released in court.

The feelings of the bereaved family are complicated

During the trial, the three bereaved families expressed their thoughts, but they showed mixed feelings about "compensation."



The wife of the murdered police officer, Kenichi Inaizumi, said, "My husband was an important and unforgettable person for me. I can't forgive the criminal. Please put me to death. I will make up for it with my own life. I want you to do it. "



The daughter of the murdered security guard, Shinichi Nakamura, also said, "The bereaved family lives in pain. I want the defendant to be sentenced to death."



Meanwhile, Mr. Nakamura's wife revealed that he had met with the defendant before the trial began, and said, "Mr. Keidai Shimazu, I don't think it's bad that you killed them, I'm sorry for myself. I told you, I don't think the penalty is excluding the death penalty, but I want you to live as long as possible, and to suffer and regret as long as we live or more. ".

Summary of the case

Three years ago, around 2:00 pm on June 26, the Okuda police box in the center of Toyama City, where there are elementary schools and residential areas nearby, was attacked.



Former Self-Defense Forces officer Keidai Shimazu (24) was arrested and charged in this case.



The undisputed history of the prosecution and the defense at the trial was as follows.



Defendant Shimazu is said to have knocked on the back door of the police box and stabbed Kenichi Inaizumi (46), a police officer who was an assistant police officer at the time of opening the door, with a knife and killed him.

Mr. Inaizumi had as many as 40 scratches.



Then, I got the pistol that Mr. Inaizumi wore and walked around the residential area as it was.

On the way, when he passed near an elementary school with many children, he fired two pistols at the guards on the school grounds.



Although the bullet came off, it landed on a temporary passageway in the school where children also pass.



After that, he approached another guard, Shinichi Nakamura, who was near the school gate, and was allegedly killed by firing a pistol.



Defendant Shimazu stated in a police investigation that he had shot the guards, "I was mistaken for a police officer."



Even after the bullet of the pistol ran out, he tried to attack the police officer who rushed in, but he was shot by the police officer with a pistol and arrested.



The school children were not injured, but after the incident, some children complained of mental illness, so a dispatched school counselor provided mental care.



The aim of the police box, which was supposed to protect the residents, caused serious anxiety in the local community and also triggered the police to strengthen the police box safety measures.