Falling Object Hits Pedestrians... All Dead
Japanese Citizens Say "Meaningless Act... Waste of Public Authority"
Experts Also Call for "Measures to Protect Victims"
In Japan, an incident occurred where a high school girl jumped off a building in a shopping mall, hitting a passerby below, resulting in the deaths of both individuals. Japanese authorities have decided to prosecute the deceased student.
On the 28th (local time), Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the student who fell to her death in a Japanese shopping mall was prosecuted by the prosecution. According to the report, on August 31, A, a 17-year-old high school girl from Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo, visited a shopping mall near the west exit of JR Yokohama Station in Ishiku, Yokohama City, with three friends. Later, around 6 p.m., A jumped from the rooftop garden on the 12th floor by climbing over a glass fence about 2.5 meters high.
A high school student died after jumping from a shopping mall in Yokohama, Japan, and the prosecution has decided to indict him. NHK
The problem arose immediately after A's jump. She fell and struck Chikako Chiba (32), who was walking below. Both sustained serious injuries and were taken to the hospital, but A and Chiba died one hour and four hours after the accident, respectively. Chiba was an office worker employed at a company near the shopping mall and had come to Yokohama Station with a friend when the accident occurred. Yokohama police concluded that A jumped voluntarily rather than falling accidentally and prosecuted her on charges of "serious negligence causing death of another person." The police stated, "A was old enough to understand that her actions could harm others," and requested the prosecution to file charges.
SCMP reported that this caused significant controversy locally. Japanese citizens criticized, saying, "Prosecuting A, who is already deceased, is meaningless," and "It is a waste of public authority. Since punishment is not possible, there is no practical purpose." On the other hand, legal experts expressed the opinion that it is a "measure for the victim, B." Shinichi Ishizuka, founder of the Criminal Justice Future Research Institute in Tokyo, explained, "If A were alive, the prosecution could have easily charged her with negligent homicide. Although criminal prosecution has become practically impossible, it will be easier for B's family to file a civil lawsuit for damages." He added, "There is also an effect of deterring citizens from ending their lives in a way that endangers others," emphasizing, "The legal responsibility of those who choose suicide can be further highlighted."
Domestic netizens who heard the news responded with comments such as, "Even if deceased, if you harm others, you must pay the price," "It's so tragic for Chiba," and "It feels unfamiliar compared to our country, where cases end with no prosecution."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
