HYOGO (TR) – Police in Minamiawaji City have arrested a 54-year-old man on suspicion of murder after he allegedly bludgeoned his 81-year-old neighbor to death with a metal bat, reports Nippon News Network (July 23).
Morihiro Takeda was taken into custody after police discovered the lifeless body of his neighbor, Katsuji Takeichi, inside his Awaji Island home at around 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Upon his arrest, Takeda readily admitted to the brutal attack. “I hit him 12 to 13 times with a metal bat,” the suspect told investigators.
Confessed
The incident came to light when Takeichi’s son placed an emergency call. Officers rushing to the scene found the elderly man collapsed inside the residence.
Investigators quickly linked Takeda to the crime after reviewing footage from nearby security cameras. When officers visited Takeda’s home next door to question him, he confessed to the killing on the spot.
According to police and local residents, Takeda had a history of causing trouble in the community. One neighbor revealed that Takeda had previously smashed their window—a crime that was only solved because they had recently installed a security camera.
Police confirmed there was an ongoing feud between the suspect and the victim, with multiple prior disputes recorded between the two men. Authorities are currently investigating the exact motive and circumstances that triggered the fatal attack.
