SANKEI SHIMBUN
December 22, 1995
(unofficial translation)

Police Concludes "No Evidence of Criminality" in the Case of Higashi Murayama Councilwoman's Fall to Death

Sankei Shimbun article: "No Evidence of Criminality"

December 22, 1995 -- The Higashi Murayama Police Station today concluded its investigation into the death of Akiyo Asaki, the 50-year-old Higashi Murayama City councilwoman, who fell to her death from a local condominium in September (1995). The authorities reported that there was "no evidence of criminality" in the incident, based on examinations including a judicial autopsy and blood test. A postmortem ruled out the possibility that Mrs. Asaki was mortally injured by a third party; she had died from "suicide caused by remorse over a shoplifting charge."

The councilwoman was discovered at 10:42 p.m. on September 1, her body lying between a condominium, located in the city's Honcho district, and a metal fence behind the building. The police suspected that Mrs. Asaki had died from either an accident or suicide, due to evidence such as the imprint of both her hands, found on the outer side of the handrail of the landing between the fifth and sixth floors, facing the condominium. As they continued their investigation, they learned that after Mrs. Asaki fell, she told the person who found her that she was "all right."

A judicial autopsy and blood test, moreover, revealed that the cause of death was acute shock induced by multiple fractures and other injuries. It also showed that her death was not caused by 1) the use of drugs or alcohol or 2) injuries inflicted by a third party. Given this, the authorities ruled Mrs. Asaki's death a suicide and concluded the investigation.

Mrs. Asaki had received a summons from the Hachioji District Public Prosecutor's Office on August 29 over an alleged shoplifting charge that took place in her electoral district in June (1995). She was scheduled to appear before the prosecution on September 5 (1995). The police believe the summons was her suicide motive.

[Note: As it appeared in the December 22, 1995 issue of Sankei Shimbun]