Death sentence sought for alleged murderer of Vietnamese girl
Japanese prosecutors have demanded a death penalty for Yasumasa Shibuya, a Japanese man who has been accused of murdering a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl in Chiba prefecture on March 24 last year.
Le Anh Hao (R), father of murdered Vietnamese girl Le Thi Nhat Linh, and a lawyer at a press conference on the first day of the first-instance court on June 4 (Source: VNA)
Tokyo (VNA) – Japanese prosecutors have demanded a death penalty forYasumasa Shibuya, a Japanese man who has been accused of murdering a 9-year-oldVietnamese girl in Chiba prefecture on March 24 last year.
On the final day of the first-instancetrial on June 18, the prosecutors asserted that Shibuya, 47, committed a“cold-blooded, heinous and cruel” crime, and demanded the highest penalty forhim.
However, defence lawyerscontinued affirming that the defendant is innocent and evidence is not strongenough to charge him.
The Chiba Court announced that itwill issue a ruling on July 6, 2018.
Shibuya is accused of murderingLe Thi Nhat Linh, a third grader living in Matsudo town.
Linh disappeared shortly afterleaving her home on foot for her school on March 24, 2017. Her body was foundtwo days later in Abiko, Chiba. She is thought to have been choked to death,based on marks found on her neck.
Shibuya was arrested on April 14,2017 on suspicion of dumping Linh’s body. The same day, Japanese police serveda new arrest warrant on the man, charging the suspect with murder andabandonment of the victim’s body, after tests results showed that DNA takenfrom Shibuya matched those of samples found on the victim’s body.
Shibuya was head of the parents'association at the elementary school in Matsudo where the victim attended. Helives about 300 metres from the victim's home.-VNA
Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong has urged Japan’s law enforcement agencies to soon conclude investigation into the death of a ten-year-old Vietnamese girl named Le Thi Nhat Linh, and strengthen evidence to bring the suspect to trial.
The Chiba District Court said on March 6 that it will begin the trial under the lay judge system on June 4 for a man indicted for murdering a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl last year.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan showed its hope that the case related to the murder of a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl last year will be handled strictly and a proper sentence will be given to the murderer.
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Le Anh Hao (R), father of murdered Vietnamese girl Le Thi Nhat Linh, and a lawyer at a press conference on the first day of the first-instance court on June 4 (Source: VNA) 
