Prosecutors in Japan have requested a 27-year prison sentence for Riko Uchida, 23, in connection with the death of a high school student [1].
The case has drawn significant attention due to the graphic nature of the crime and the vulnerability of the victim, who was 17 years old [4].
The incident occurred in 2024 [5] near the Kamui Bridge in Asahikawa, Hokkaido [1]. Prosecutors allege that Uchida confined the teenager, forced her to undress, and sat her on the bridge railing [1]. The prosecution argues that the victim fell from the bridge following a series of threats and assaults [1].
During the proceedings, prosecutors described a harrowing scene. A prosecutor said the victim was forced to be naked on the railing while being told to "fall" and "die," creating a psychological state where falling was inevitable [1]. The prosecutor said that regardless of the direct reason for the fall, the result was caused by the persistent assault and threats from the defendant [1].
Uchida, who is currently unemployed [2], denied the most severe allegations during the trial. "I had no intent to kill, and I did not make her fall from the bridge," Uchida said [3].
The legal proceedings have moved through several stages since the incident. Prosecutors issued the sentencing request on May 8, 2024 [6]. The trial formally began on May 25, 2024 [6], with the final verdict scheduled for May 22, 2024 [1].
Uchida faces multiple charges, including murder, confinement, and death caused by non-consensual indecent acts [1]. The case highlights the severity of charges related to the confinement, and psychological torture of minors under Japanese law.
“"I had no intent to kill, and I did not make her fall from the bridge,"”
The request for a 27-year sentence reflects the prosecution's view that the victim's death was the direct result of systemic abuse and psychological coercion. By charging Uchida with non-consensual indecent acts alongside murder and confinement, the state is treating the case as a violent crime involving extreme power imbalances and sexual degradation, rather than a simple accidental death.
