I killed my wife,” he said on line… Numazu Love Hotel Murder “700 Million Yen Debt” Defendant Speaks in Court
He said, “I killed 00 (wife), even though we decided together, I am a murderer. Everyone, please live on.”
The second trial of Yuki Nakamura, who is accused of murder for strangling his wife, has been held at the Tokyo High Court since February 9, 2023. The incident occurred on November 23, 2021. Nakamura (44 at the time) and his wife argued while drinking at a love hotel in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and he choked her to death by strangling her with both hands.
Immediately after the crime, Nakamura sent a LINE to several acquaintances as shown at the beginning of this article. Shortly after sending the message, Nakamura called 110 himself. He admitted the charges during questioning, but stated that he had killed her with her consent.
Nakamura used to lead a lavish lifestyle as the president of an interior design company with several branch offices.
For a time, he had branches in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Amagasaki, and other cities, and rented apartments in Amagasaki and Okinawa. In Okinawa, he spent his days playing golf. He drove luxury cars such as Mercedes Benz, Lamborghini, and Lexus, and had his entire body covered with brand names.
How did Nakamura, who was leading a picture-perfect, successful life, come to the point of murdering his wife? The reason will be revealed at the first trial held in September 2022 at the Numazu District Court. The first trial will be held in September 2022 at the Numazu District Court, and it will be revealed that Nakamura’s motive was “debt woes.
Nakamura was leading a lavish lifestyle and struggling with his company’s cash flow, and just prior to his arrest he was nearly 700 million yen in debt. In addition to his golfing lifestyle, his wife also had a habit of spending lavishly and had Nakamura pay for brand-name goods and beauty treatments.
It seems that he also borrowed money from his gray connections, and just before the incident, he made a statement to the effect that he was going to be killed. The day before the incident was the day that the company Nakamura had established effectively went bankrupt. He may have killed his wife in desperation because he had no hope of repaying his debts.
The prosecution claimed that Nakamura committed the crime in order to escape his creditors by killing his wife and being prosecuted. The defense, on the other hand, claimed that he committed the murder impulsively because he was mentally cornered while running away from his creditors. In any case, it seems to be true that Nakamura was being chased by his creditors.
Nakamura, who was saddled with huge debts in the form of rent, a luxury car loan, and money he had contributed to his wife, was sentenced to 11 years in prison (with a 15-year sentence).
Of interest is his statement that he “killed her with her consent” and a line he sent to an acquaintance that suggested he had committed forcible manslaughter. Did Nakamura lie in order to lighten his sentence in order to take into account extenuating circumstances?
After the first trial, Nakamura appealed the verdict, and as mentioned above, the second trial is now underway. Nakamura appeared in court wearing short gray hair, black sweatshirts, and a sweatshirt. He appeared to have aged considerably in the year or so since his arrest.
Nakamura expressed remorse for the murder of his wife , saying, “I have nothing but regret,” but he muddled his answer about the forced suicide, saying, “If you say I intended to commit suicide, I might have done so.
What about the 700 million yen debt the defendant is saddled with? Attorney Yuka Kofuji, who belongs to the law firm Hibiki, explains: “Even while he was in prison, he was able to repay his debts.
The obligation to repay the debt remains even while he is in prison. There are cases where the statute of limitations expires (i.e., the obligation to repay the debt disappears), but it is also possible for a creditor to file a lawsuit against the inmate, demanding that the debt be repaid.
When asked about his future, Nakamura said, “After I am released from prison, I would like to return to the Kansai region and return to work in the construction industry. There is no other place for me to go back to, so ……,” he replied.
After leading a life of pretense, he killed his wife, and even after serving his sentence, he is left with a huge debt. No matter how much he regrets it, he will never be able to fully repent for his life. The second trial is scheduled for March 2, 2023.
Interview and text by: Hayahide Sato