OSAKA (TR) – A 27-year-old man on trial over the alleged murder of a female university student he was dating has told a court here that he admits to the charges, reports Mainichi Broadcasting System (Feb. 17).
At the Osaka District Court on February 17, Sho Nishimitsu, of no known occupation, entered the courtroom in a black suit and bowed deeply to the judges. When asked about allegations of murder and other cries, Nishimitsu said, “There is absolutely no mistake.”
According to the indictment and other documents, Nishimatsu allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, 19-year-old Karen Watanabe, a second-year university student, dozens of times with a kitchen knife at her residence in Hirakata City in May last year.
In its opening statement, the prosecution pointed out, “Before the incident, the defendant had over 1.8 million yen in debt from girls’ bars, and other things. However, he had concealed this large amount of debt and the fact that he was unemployed from his girlfriend.”
The prosecution added that he thought that if Watanabe found out that he was unemployed and had debts, she would end their relationship. “Therefore, he thought of killing her rather than having her end their relationship,” the prosecution concluded.
more than 50 wounds throughout her body
The incident came to light when Nishimitsu called the police himself from a hotel in Osaka City on May 18. On the phone, he said that he was unable to pay the room charge. Upon their arrival he explained that he had “killed someone.”
According to police, Watanabe died of blood loss due to a stab wound to the neck on May 16. She suffered more than 50 wounds throughout her body. One stab wound in the abdomen had reached her liver.
Nishimatsu also sold Watanabe’s laptop at a used-goods shop in Hirakata. He is believed to have used the tens of thousands of yen he obtained from the sale to cover accommodation costs at the hotel where he was hiding out. He checked into the hotel on May 16.
According to those involved in the investigation, Nishimatsu also stated that he “owed several million yen to consumer finance companies.” But he kept this a secret from Watanabe.
Local news reported that Nishimatsu was in possession of handwritten at the time of his apprehension. He also told police that he had ingested a large quantity of sleeping medicine before alerting police.
The verdict in the case is scheduled to be handed down on February 28.
