CHIBA — A 61-year-old man arrested for attempted murder after allegedly breaking into a home and stabbing his neighbor in the neck with a screwdriver is suspected in multiple similar cases.
Yuichi Kiuchi, a self-proclaimed unemployed resident of Yachimata City, is accused of invading a neighboring residence around noon on March 18 and attacking a 43-year-old man, reports the site for weekly tabloid Friday (Mar. 23).
“My neighbor broke in, and my husband was stabbed in the neck,” the victim’s wife frantically told police in an emergency call.
Officers rushing to the scene apprehended Kiuchi. The victim was quickly transported to a hospital and fortunately sustained only minor injuries. However, authorities noted the strike could easily have been fatal had the tool landed differently.
During questioning, Kiuchi completely denied the allegations. He said, “It’s a mistake.”
Second case
The violent attack appears to be the boiling point of an ongoing neighborhood dispute. As well, there have been a rash of such incidents in recent months.
In a second case, police accused Kiuchi of stabbing an 89-year-old man and his 85-year-old wife in the neck with a screwdriver in Yachimata on March 18. Earlier this month, police again accused Kiuchi of attempted murder. In commenting on the allegations, Kiuchi remained silent.
Tahei Ogawa, a former detective with the Kanagawa Prefectural Police and crime journalist, emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the root of the neighborhood trouble.
“Investigators need to determine if there was a serious dispute that could have been resolved before escalating to an attempted murder case,” Ogawa said. “Furthermore, considering potential stress from poverty or family issues, a careful psychiatric evaluation of the suspect will be necessary.”
