Paul Shimmin

British man sentenced to 13 years in prison for killing woman he lived with

Thursday 27th August, 06:40 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 74 Total Comments Show All

Nessie at 03:41 PM JST - 28th August

I don't ever recall seeing the face of any "ordinary" convicted criminal... especially any Japanese ones. Am I wrong here ?

I'm pretty sure they had a photo of that Obara guy who allegedly killed the British hostess and was convicted on a lesser charge.
lunchmeat at 06:09 PM JST - 28th August

Had they been married he would have received the death penalty.
bobbafett at 11:27 PM JST - 28th August

I don't ever recall seeing the face of any "ordinary" convicted criminal

that dental student (that kept failing exams) who chopped up his sister (who never shut up about his failing exams until he killed her) had his mug plastered all over JT a few times. JT is impartial with its photographic content.
nipponreddog at 02:08 PM JST - 29th August

Question: "What was this misfit Brit doing in Japan in the first place?!"
EKAM1 at 11:04 PM JST - 29th August

He is one lucky piece of CRAP to be getting 13 years for taking a life. He took a life and should do life in a Japanese Jail with 0 possibility of getting out.
sageb1 at 02:42 AM JST - 30th August

what? not even a death sentence? I guess he isn't insane.
hworta269 at 03:31 PM JST - 30th August

yeah he should get a lethal injection.
shufu at 08:13 PM JST - 30th August

darkknightnine - TOTALLY agree with you there.

It says that

His defense lawyers argued that Kawanobe had accidentally suffocated with her face buried in her pillow while asleep

WHO was asleep - him or her? The evidence here is really dodgy - for example what about sleep disorders? When i was a child i was a chronic sleepwalker who used to get really agressive when woken up, thankfully ive grown out of it. However these sleep conditions are more common than anyone can know.

To be honest it does suck that this guy is automatically judged by his looks ... he might be a perfectly nice chap ... but i wouldnt like to meet him on a dark night either ...
DarkKnightNine at 12:32 AM JST - 31st August

I can't believe some of the stupid statements being made by some readers. For example, this gem from DarkKnightNine: "Japanese courts will never give a foreigner a fair judgement." Incredible. Is it possible that someone can make such a blanket statement and expect to be taken seriously?

Well Brainiac my so called stupidity comes from the experience of living here for 23 years and actually having been to court several times. I wonder what your experience in Japan has been for you to think otherwise. I could tell many horror stories of friends who have had their civil rights violated in Japan.
Nessie at 12:54 AM JST - 31st August

I could tell many horror stories of friends who have had their civil rights violated in Japan.

What are these "civil rights" of which you speak?

Moderator: Back on topic please. This thread is about the British man convicted of murder.
spudman at 09:54 AM JST - 31st August

the dude has for children back in Ireland. He called the cops after some time to say he found his partner(not wife) dead. Facts are known only to him. Best the court could do was go with circumstantial evidence. sad for all concerned.
elbudamexicano at 04:10 PM JST - 31st August

This is highly embarrassing for the entire British community out here in Japan. I hope we can keep these fools out of Japan and in UK prisons were they belong.
DarkKnightNine at 06:13 PM JST - 31st August

Besides the point I was making was that this chap is being unfairly judged by his looks. There are some people who assume black people are dangerous just because they happen to be black. Just because this guy happens to be not so attractive in the eyes of most of the posters here, doesn't mean that he's guilty. He just doesn't have Brad Pitt's DNA.
AK619 at 01:34 PM JST - 1st September

@DarkKnightNine:

He had a girlfriend, so I don't think it was this guys looks that landed him in prision. It was his dumb actions that led him into prision. I guess he got pumped up to much on some Punk Rock CD.
altern8gal at 03:54 AM JST - 20th September

Paul was a personal friend of mine...I've known him for over 10 years, he brought up his eldest 2 kids on his own. I've never met a more kind-hearted man...I'm very surprised at this and find it hard to believe. Never ever judge a book by it's cover...he was not the person people presume he was!