A South Korean national denied having murderous intent during his first trial Wednesday for the stabbing death of his former girlfriend [1].
The case highlights the escalation of stalking behaviors into lethal violence and the legal distinction between intentional murder and accidental death during a struggle.
Pak Yongjun, 31 [1], appeared in court on 19 August 2026 [5] to face charges related to the death of a 40-year-old woman [2]. The prosecution alleges that Pak repeatedly stalked the victim starting in August 2026 [3] before killing her in September 2026 [4]. The crime occurred in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo [1].
Prosecutors argued that the killing was a deliberate act. They said Pak intentionally stabbed the victim with a knife [1]. Following the attack, Pak attempted to flee the country via Haneda Airport [1].
Pak admitted to the stalking charges but denied the intent to kill. "I did not commit the murder with the intent to kill," Pak said [1].
His defense team presented a different version of events regarding the weapon. The defense lawyer said the knife was brought for the purpose of suicide, but the victim was stabbed during a struggle [1].
The court will continue to examine the evidence to determine if the stabbing was a premeditated act or the result of an accidental escalation during a physical altercation. The timeline of the stalking, beginning in August 2026 [3] and ending in the September 2026 [4] killing, remains a central point of the prosecution's argument regarding the defendant's state of mind.
“"I did not commit the murder with the intent to kill,"”
This trial centers on the legal threshold of 'intent' in Japanese law. While the defendant admits to stalking and the act of stabbing, the defense is attempting to reclassify the crime from intentional murder to a lesser charge by framing the death as an accident during a suicide attempt. The prosecution's focus on the defendant's attempt to flee through Haneda Airport serves as evidence of consciousness of guilt and premeditation.
