AICHI (TR) – A court here has acquitted a former host of abandoning the body of a man in the closet of an apartment in Nagoya two years ago, reports Kyodo News (Mar. 17).
At the Nagoya District Court on Monday, presiding judge Yoichi Omura said, “The credibility of Uchida’s testimony that he conspired cannot be fully guaranteed.” He added, “The crime cannot be proven.”
According to the indictment and other documents, former host Naoki Koyama, 24, had been accused of conspiring with Asuka Uchida, 31, to abandon the body of Koichi Abe, then 42, in the closet of the victim’s apartment in Shinsakae, Naka Ward.
Uchida, a former customer of Koyama, has also been indicted on charges of robbery and murder.
During the trial, the prosecution had sought a prison sentence of one year and six months. They argued that Uchida, who is much smaller than Abe, could not have abandoned the body in the apartment herself.
Meanwhile, the defense argued for an acquittal.
Koyama commented afterward, “I’m relieved that it’s been proven that I didn’t do it.”
The rest of the story
Abe is the former manager of a second-hand goods store. Uchida was once an employee.
According to previous reports, Uchida allegedly strangled Abe with both hands at his home. She also stands accused of stealing approximately 800,000 yen in cash and approximately 1,300 items — valued at a total of approximately 74 million yen — including watches, rings, and luxury brand bags.
When questioned, she reportedly denied the charges. She said, “I don’t admit to this.”
Uchida was indicted in December 2023 on charges of abandoning a corpse. Koyama was also indicted on the same charge.
According to investigators, Uchida sold the precious metals and other items that she had stolen at another store. She used about 50 million of obtained funds for food and drinks and Koyama’s club.
