Three defendants admitted to charges during their first trial Monday for a group assault that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old man [1].
The case highlights a violent escalation of a planned robbery among young adults, involving recorded threats that the prosecution used to establish the severity of the crime [1, 2].
The defendants, identified as Hane Kawamura (21), Ama Yagihara (21), and a third unnamed individual [1], appeared in court on May 25, 2026 [1]. During the proceedings, the defendants acknowledged the contents of the indictment [1]. When questioned, Kawamura said, "It is correct" [1].
According to the prosecution, the assault occurred in October 2024 [1] at a park in Ebetsu City, Hokkaido [1, 2]. The group conspired to steal cash, and other belongings from the victim, Tomoya Hase [1, 2]. The robbery escalated into a violent assault that caused the death of the 20-year-old victim [1, 2].
As part of the evidence, the prosecution released a recording made by Hase during the attack [1]. The audio contains threats made by Kawamura during the assault [1].
The court has scheduled the verdict for June 25, 2026 [1].
“"It is correct"”
The admission of guilt by all three defendants during the first trial suggests a streamlined legal process, as the primary point of contention—the facts of the assault—has been conceded. The use of a victim-recorded audio file provides the prosecution with direct evidence of the defendants' state of mind and the level of threat used, which will likely influence the sentencing severity when the verdict is delivered in June.
