(TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE TEXT)
MAINICHI SHIMBUN
April 15, 1997
(unofficial translation)
No Murder Case Pursued by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
in Higashi Murayama City Councilwoman's Fatal Fall
April 15 1997 Mainichi Shimbun reports conclusion of Tokyo District Prosecutors: "No murder case"
On April 14, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided to drop the alleged murder case of former Higashi Murayama City Councilwoman Akiyo Asaki (then 50 years old) who suffered a fatal fall from an apartment building because "there was no evidence of murder and the possibility of suicide is too high."
It has become clear through investigation that the former councilwoman (1) refused rescue by an ambulance immediately after she was found on the ground; (2) did not indicate she had been hurt by anyone; and (3) was witnessed to have been walking with a depressed expression prior to the incident.
[Note: As it appeared in the April 15, 1997 issue of Mainichi Shimbun]
