In Japan, attempted murder victim calls for abolition of statutes of limitations — The Japan Times
In the Japanese city of Nagoya, 61-year-old Yoshitaka Yasuda, who survived a 2002 attack and was left with a severe disability, is campaigning with his wife for the abolition of statutes of limitations for attempted murder cases. In 2010, Japan abolished statutes of limitations for particularly serious crimes, including murder, but those changes did not apply to attempted murder, The Japan Times reports.
Attack in Nagoya
On November 18, 2002, two men attacked two security guards in the parking lot of a pachinko parlor in Nagoya. The guards had arrived to collect the proceeds. The attackers shot them, took four bags containing about 8.7 million yen, and fled.
Yasuda sustained gunshot wounds to his neck and leg, as well as a stab wound to his side. Due to a cervical spinal cord injury, he has tetraplegia and uses a wheelchair. His wife, Izumi, helps him with everyday tasks, including bathing. He also reported severe pain in his hands, difficulty breathing, and deteriorating health.
The statute of limitations expired in 2017
Aichi Prefectural Police did not identify any suspects, and the statute of limitations in the case expired in November 2017. Following the 2010 legislative changes, a police officer initially told Yasuda that the statute of limitations in his case would also be abolished. However, in 2016, he received a notice offering to return evidence, as one year remained before the deadline expired.
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The prefectural police acknowledged that they had provided an incorrect explanation and apologized. At the same time, law enforcement officials explained that the case was not covered by the changes because Yasuda survived.
Petition to parliament
Izumi Yasuda has been submitting a petition to parliament since 2017, seeking the abolition of statutes of limitations for attempted murder that results in victims’ severe disabilities. The petition is still under consideration. Last year, the Aichi Prefectural Assembly unanimously adopted an appeal with the same demand.
In March this year, Sora no Kai, an organization uniting relatives of murder victims, announced its intention to appeal to the central government to abolish statutes of limitations for attempted murder and fatal hit-and-run traffic accidents.
