HOKKAIDO (TR) – Police here have arrested a 48-year-old man who burst into a courtroom at the Asahikawa District Court and caused a scene immediately following the sentencing of a convicted murderer, reports Fuji News Network (June 24).
The sudden intrusion caused a temporary halt to the trial of Riko Uchida, who had just been handed a 27-year prison term for murder and other crimes.
The 48-year-old suspect, a self-proclaimed resident of Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, has been sent to prosecutors on suspicion of trespassing over the June 22 incident.
According to investigations, the court had set up metal detectors and heightened security for the high-profile sentencing. However, the man still managed to slip through a door designated for the public gallery without possessing a required seating ticket.
Bursting into the courtroom just after the sentence was read, the man shouted, “This is too lenient! The family won’t get any justice from this!”
The Asahikawa District Court stated that it is currently confirming the details of the security breach and will consider appropriate measures to prevent future incidents.
