Woman Arrested for Murder Speaks in Court After Nepalese Man Dies in Chiba Over Tragic Love Dispute
Woman arrested on suspicion of stabbing man in the chest
“When we were lying on the bed, crying and talking together, he suddenly sat up and said, ‘If we can’t be together, I’ll kill myself,’ and then grabbed the knife on the table and stabbed himself around the chest area,”
said the 32-year-old woman suspected of murder, describing the moment her partner attempted suicide.
“On October 28, 2025, Chiba Prefectural Police’s Investigation Division 1 arrested Mami Asaka (32), a part-time worker in Chiba City, on suspicion of killing her Nepalese boyfriend, Chantar Badal (21). Asaka is suspected of stabbing Badal in the chest at a hotel in Funabashi City.
On the morning of October 5, around 8 a.m., Asaka called 119, saying ‘He stabbed himself.’ Paramedics who arrived at the scene found Badal lying face down, covered in blood. Death was confirmed at the scene,” reported a journalist from a national newspaper’s social affairs desk.
Two knives were found at the scene, and when Asaka reportedly admitted that she shoplifted the knife, the prefectural police arrested her on suspicion of theft. At the time of her arrest, she denied the murder charge, saying it was a mistake.
“Subsequently, the prosecution charged Asaka not with murder, but with assisting suicide, theft, and violating the Swords and Firearms Control Law. They stated the decision was made based on the available evidence,” said the same social affairs reporter.
On February 19, 2026, Asaka’s first trial was held at the Chiba District Court. Badal’s relatives attended and listened to Asaka’s testimony via a Nepali interpreter.
During the trial, what happened that day began to be gradually revealed.
Faced opposition from those around her
Chantar Badal, a student at a Japanese language school, met Mami Asaka (the accused) at a factory where they both worked in December 2024. The two, who were 11 years apart in age, began dating in March 2025. Asaka recalled that around the time their relationship started, Badal was already asking for marriage.
“He initially sent me a passionate message including the word marriage. When we met in person, he also said things like ‘I want to marry you.’ I liked him, but at that time I wasn’t thinking about marriage yet.”
Because Badal had school and Asaka was working two jobs, they mostly met at hotels. When asked by the victim’s lawyer whether they ever went to movies or amusement parks together, Asaka answered, “No.”
By around September, Asaka began to consider marrying Badal, but she faced opposition from people around her. She cited three reasons that led her to contemplate suicide: Her family’s disapproval, lack of money to live together, reduced time together because Badal had changed workplaces.
Regarding family opposition, Asaka explained in response to her lawyer’s questions:
“My parents opposed the relationship, saying that because our cultures and upbringings are different, living together would be difficult. Badal’s father also called him, asking, ‘Why did you go to Japan?’ and expressed opposition to the marriage.”
According to Asaka, Badal was very shocked by the opposition but still said he wanted to be together and marry her.
Eventually, both began to contemplate suicide.
“‘If we can’t be together, should we die?’ Badal showed me a picture of a Nepali kukri knife,” Asaka stated.
Asaka interpreted the kukri knife image as a message to prepare a weapon. Thinking we’re going to die anyway, so there’s no need to buy one, she stole two kitchen knives from a 100-yen shop on October 3.
On the night of October 4, when she met Badal at a hotel, she placed the two knives on the table and told him that she had prepared the weapons.
According to Asaka’s testimony, it was then that Badal attempted suicide, as described at the beginning.
Conflicting testimony from the family
The prosecutor pointed out that Badal had more than a dozen stab and cut wounds on his body and asked, “Do you understand how he could have received so many injuries?” Asaka responded:
“I was on the bed, so I could only see Badal’s back. He was leaning forward, so I couldn’t tell exactly what movements he was making.”
She also explained why she didn’t pursue him:
“My mind went completely blank, so I couldn’t take any action.”
After hesitating for a while, she called 119 (emergency services).
During the trial, Asaka recalled happy moments with Badal and said, “I pray for his soul every day.”
Meanwhile, Badal’s relatives, who had lived with him in Japan, testified during post-incident questioning as follows:
“We knew about Badal’s relationship with the accused, but we heard that on the night of October 2, 2025, Badal had told her he wanted to break up. We believe Badal was murdered. We hope that anyone involved in his death will be severely punished.”
While the family considers that Badal was murdered, Asaka is being charged with assisting suicide and other offenses—not murder. Whether the trial can dispel the family’s doubts remains to be seen, and what kind of punishment the judiciary will impose on Asaka is still uncertain.
The proceedings are expected to continue.
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Interview and text： Nakahira Ryo