A large amount of air injected into a vein through an IV tube…! Murder of an Elderly Resident at a Nursing Facility: “Defendant, a Former Female Staff Member” Faces Unprecedented 7-Month Trial

It became the second-longest trial on record.

The verdict was handed down on July 7 at the Mito District Court (Ibaraki Prefecture) in the lay judge trial of Emi Akama (40), a former female employee of a long-term care facility for the elderly who was charged with murder and other offenses.It took a full seven months from the first hearing to the verdict. The trial saw 54 hearings—the second-highest number on record—and more than 130 witnesses, including doctors and Ms. Akama’s colleagues, appeared in court.

“Defendant Akama is accused of murdering two elderly residents: Mr. A, in his 70s, and Mr. B, in his 80s. However, the verdicts in the two cases were contrasting.In the case of Mr. A, the murder charge was upheld, and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In the case of Mr. B, however, the court ruled that ‘there is reasonable doubt to conclude that Defendant Akama is the perpetrator,’ and he was acquitted.

The main reason for the unusually lengthy trial was likely the lack of physical evidence, given that the crimes were committed behind closed doors. The testimony from the doctors who appeared in court and the details of the crimes were highly technical, and I believe there were parts that the lay judges struggled to fully grasp. During the trial, Defendant Akama maintained his innocence, stating, ‘I did not commit the murders.’” (Judicial affairs reporter for a national newspaper)

“FRIDAY Digital” reported in detail on this mysterious incident immediately after Defendant Akama’s arrest. We would like to look back on the case in which Mr. A, who was found guilty, died, as well as Defendant Akama’s baffling behavior—

Voluntary Resignation Without Explanation

“What were you doing?”

It was one day in July 2020. When a colleague confronted Defendant Akama about his suspicious behavior, he became flustered. Without offering a clear explanation, he went home before the end of the workday. It is said that he subsequently resigned voluntarily.

On December 8, 2021, the Ibaraki Prefectural Police arrested Defendant Akama. He is suspected of killing Mr. A, a resident at the nursing facility where he worked, shortly after noon on July 6 of the previous year. Mr. A’s condition deteriorated rapidly despite having no major health issues. He was pronounced dead at the hospital to which he was transported.

“At the time, Mr. A was sleeping in a bed in a four-person room. Defendant Akama is suspected of using an empty syringe to inject a large amount of air into Mr. A’s vein through the IV tube attached to his leg. His unusual behavior was witnessed by a colleague.

When confronted by her colleagues, Ms. Akama—perhaps realizing she was in trouble—immediately resigned of her own accord. The facility asked Ms. Akama for an explanation but did not receive a satisfactory response, so they consulted the police. The police conducted interviews with staff members and at the hospital where Mr. A was taken, which led to Ms. Akama’s arrest,” said a reporter from the social affairs department of a national newspaper.

Defendant Akama obtained her nursing license about 15 years before the incident. She had worked as a nurse at hospitals in Saitama and Tochigi prefectures, but at the facility where the incident occurred, she was employed as a care worker. She was not in a position to handle IV drips or syringes.

“Defendant Akama began working at the facility in the spring of 2020. She had a cheerful and approachable personality and was well-regarded by her colleagues. I’ve heard that she would wake up early every morning to make a packed lunch for her husband, whom she had married the previous November,” (ibid.)

“Frequent problems, such as running out of cash”

Despite her good reputation, she reportedly had many family disputes.

“Initially, she was living with her husband’s parents after they got married. However, problems such as cash disappearing from her in-laws’ wallets occurred frequently. Family relations deteriorated, and she had been living separately from her in-laws since around the summer of ’21,” said a reporter for another national newspaper.

What was the motive for the crime? Taihei Ogawa, a former detective with the Kanagawa Prefectural Police and a crime journalist, offers his perspective.

“The defendant is a licensed nurse. She must have known what the consequences would be if she injected a large amount of air. This was likely not just a prank. I sense a clear intent to kill. There are two possible motives for the crime. One is a personal grudge against the victim. The other is strong dissatisfaction with the facility regarding salary, work schedules, and other issues.

Of course, having grievances does not justify committing murder. This crime was committed in a situation that was nearly a ‘closed room.’ It is difficult to obtain direct evidence. Regarding Mr. A’s case, the prosecution likely piled up circumstantial evidence to impress upon the lay judges that the defendant was the only possible perpetrator.”

Following the verdict—in which one of the cases introduced at the beginning resulted in a guilty verdict and the other in an acquittal—Defendant Akama’s defense team stated they are “half satisfied and half dissatisfied” and plan to file an appeal.