Current Legislator Suspected of Killing Wife Makes Strange Claims Before Arrest

A sitting politician has been indicted for allegedly murdering his wife.

The pre-trial procedures for this shocking case have concluded, and the jury trial will begin on October 16. The defendant charged with murder is Daisuke Maruyama (50), a former member of the Nagano Prefectural Assembly.

“The incident occurred in September 2021. Maruyama is accused of killing his wife, Ms. A (then 47), by strangling her at their home and sake brewery in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture. He has consistently claimed innocence, stating an alibi that he was at the parliamentary office on the day of the incident, even before his arrest” (Nationwide newspaper judicial reporter).

FRIDAY Digital reported in detail on this enigmatic case shortly after Maruyama’s arrest on November 30, 2022. This article will reflect on the entire saga of troubles that took over a year before the arrest, as well as Maruyama’s perplexing statements (some content has been revised).

 

Arrested more than a year after the incident

 

A sitting politician has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife.

On November 28, 2022, the Nagano Prefectural Police arrested Daisuke Maruyama, a member of the Nagano Prefectural Assembly, on suspicion of murder. At the time, he was serving his second term as the chair of the Assembly’s General Affairs and Planning Police Committee and was also the owner of the historic sake brewery “Wakaume Sake Brewery” (located in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture), which has been in operation since the Meiji era.

“The incident came to light on the morning of September 29, 2021, around 6:30 AM. Maruyama’s wife, Ms. A, was found lying on her back near the safe on the first floor of their home and office adjacent to the brewery. Their son discovered her and called the police at 110. She was confirmed dead shortly afterward. A forensic autopsy determined that the cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation” (Nationwide newspaper social department reporter).

The police established an investigation headquarters at the Shiojiri police station, treating it as a murder case. They initiated the investigation with a team of 140 officers and called for information from the public.

“There was little physical evidence, making the investigation challenging. They gradually narrowed down the suspects through interviews with people in the area and analysis of surveillance camera footage. More than a year after the incident, they finally arrested Maruyama. He had consistently denied committing the crime since the beginning” (same source).