OSAKA (TR) – At the opening of the trial for a female fortuneteller accused of instigating two male followers to commit suicide, the defendant said that she had been overcome by “cosmic forces,” reports the Sankei Shimbun (Dec. 17).
Yoshie Hamada, 63, stands accused of binding of the bodies of the two men — Kohei Teramoto and Ichiro Yoneda — in assisting them to commit suicide in 2020.
At the Osaka District Court on December 17, the defense stated that they “won’t dispute the facts.” However, they maintained Hamada’s innocence, arguing that she “is not criminally responsible due to insanity.”
Hamada herself said, “Cosmic forces took over my body.”
“Angel Gabriel”
The two men were devout followers of Hamada, who is believed to have controlled them mentally through spiritual counseling. She called herself the “Creator” and “the angel Gabriel.”
On August 1, 2020, the bodies of Teramoto and Yoneda were found on a beach in Wakayama with their arms bound with microphone cords.
According to the prosecution’s opening statement, the incident was sparked by the escape of a male follower whom Hamada was dating at the time.
Hamada pointed out that the men had begun discussing suicide. One of them apparently said that they would “become spirits and destroy the system that controlled the man she was dating.”
As the incident unfolded, Hamada, Teramoto, Yoneda and an accomplice of Hamada jumped into the ocean, but Hamada and the accomplice stopped midway. The two men later died due to drowning.
“Vortex of anger”
The accomplice of Hamada has already been convicted in a separate trial. During those proceedings, a recording of Hamada was presented as evidence.
“It was clever that only two people were left. The scene was so funny, a truly memorable moment,” she said.
Hamada went on, “Seriously, I’ve done a lot of things up until now, but if I were to commit murder in this world…But, I didn’t! I didn’t! I didn’t!”
The accomplice admitted in court that Hamada had instructed the men to commit suicide.
The eldest son of one of the victims attended the trial using the victim participation system. At a press conference after the hearing, he said, “The trial has finally begun. [The defendant] is not thinking normally. I was feeling a vortex of anger, sadness and all sorts of emotions, and it was a confusing mess.”
After his father’s death, the house, which was in his name, was registered under Hamada’s name and given to her relatives. Hamada and others later began living there.
According to the son, Hamada’s relatives still live there. Hamada also stands accused of forging documents necessary for the registration change.
The lawyer representing the eldest son implied that the insanity plea is a ruse. “The defendant is making rational decisions, including forging a will,” the lawyer said. (A follower of Hamada was already accused of forging the suicide notes.)
The eldest son’s side is asking the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office to indict her for murder charge.
