crime

Japanese tourist returns to Niagara Falls to testify against attacker

37 Comments
By CAROLYN THOMPSON

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37 Comments
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Way to go Koyuki! No mention of costs associated with travel and expenses and hopefully either NY picks up the tab or she is very financially comfortable to follow through with charges against a thug. Go girl go!!!

15 ( +19 / -4 )

The view of Niagara Falls is infinitely better from the Canadian side. I'm guessing it's probably safer as well.

9 ( +21 / -12 )

The view of Niagara Falls is infinitely better from the Canadian side. I'm guessing it's probably safer as well.

I think the walk across on a single wire is what stops most people from crossing.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

If people would read the article the prosecution is willing to pay for travel expenses, which is only right to do so. Good on her, brave.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

A big applause to her for doing the right thing, she has made several million new friends on this side for doing so. Regret the incident. Prosecute the sonnavabich. - JQ, NYC New York

9 ( +10 / -1 )

The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of alleged sexual abuse, but Nakahara has said she wanted to discuss her case publicly.

What a brave woman for going back to face down her attacker, and for her willingness to discuss her case publicly. Nakahara is a true hero. America is grateful to you.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Good for her! It really sets an example to any tourist who is assaulted that you should not face it alone! Talk with the local authorities. Justice is universal.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

good for her! If only more Japanese women would speak out like her..

I do have a question though- the article says:

After being violently thrown to the ground and robbed of her purse and shoes during her first ever visit to Niagara Falls Robert Macleod, 44, of Niagara Falls, was indicted on charges of robbery, robbery as a sexually motivated felony, sexual abuse and assault

Of course he should be indicted on charges of robbery and assault, but why robbery as a sexually motivated felony and sexual abuse? The article doesn't mention that he attempted any form of sexual assault. Can anyone clarify this for me? thanks.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The photo should be of the defendant, not the victim.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/courts/attempted-rape-victim-returns-from-japan-to-confront-niagara-falls-attacker-20160511

Even though this criminal was on multiple videos and caught, he thought because she was from Japan she would not come back to the USA and testify against him. = If you look like a foreigner at a popular tourist attraction you may be more of a target to criminals.

He circled her in his car a few times before approaching her on foot also.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

M3M3M3May. 13, 2016 - 07:21AM JST The view of Niagara Falls is infinitely better from the Canadian side. I'm guessing it's probably safer as well.

wtf?!?! so americans are inifitely more prone to violence? what kind of assinine comment is this? the article states that about two robberies occur every year.

1 ( +8 / -6 )

You are brave lady Koyuki-san and I stand and applaud you for your courage and willingness to face your fear and do the right thing. I hope they punish this appalling crime to the full extent of the law and hopefully more to set a preicedence that will deter others from doing the same thing. You go girl and I hope you find some sort of peace with this eventually and are not permanently scarred by the ordeal.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Good on her. This scumbag outsmarted himself as well. He was initially offered a plea bargain on reduced charges, probably because the prosecutors knew it was unlikely that the victim would return for a trial. When he found out his victim was back in Japan, he refused the plea bargain, figuring he would get off completely.

Because of that decision, and her decision to return to New York, the prosecutor is going all out with additional charges. With a little luck, he will be locked away for a good while.

I would have loved to see the look on his face when he heard she was coming back to testify. Must have been priceless.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

This guy pleads insanity and he walks. I see it coming.

-3 ( +3 / -5 )

The view of Niagara Falls is infinitely better from the Canadian side. I'm guessing it's probably safer as well.

2 robbery reports per year of 8-9 million tourists is low in any country.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

They got a picture of the perp here:

http://www.wkbw.com/news/investigators-japanese-tourist-robbed-sexually-assaulted-in-niagara-falls

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The suspect cannot use the, "I was drunk and do not remember" line, song and dance like Japanese robbers or chikans do.

. . . . In the US, that would never fly. Throw the book at this guy. The prosecutors and DA should pick up Koyuki's tab . . . and then some. Brave woman.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

They've got this low-life on camera caught in the act and they still can't prosecute based on that evidence alone?

This is the kind of random act of violence, that although infrequent at Niagara Falls, occurs far too often across the US.

More than likely this guy will get off with a very light sentence and very little jail time given how over crowded US prisons are.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@nakanoguy01

wtf?!?! so americans are inifitely more prone to violence? what kind of assinine comment is this?

I'm not saying that at all. Because there are 1000s of tourists around at all hours of the day and night on the Canadian side, you are much less likely to become a victim of this sort of violent mugging that usually happens in a secluded place. (But maybe more likely to be pickpocketed?).

Also, there's no constitutional right to face your accuser in Canada so testifying by video link is perfectly acceptable (but it doesn't appear to be an option in New York). So this man's plan to target tourists wouldn't work as well in Ontario.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

wtf?!?! so americans are inifitely more prone to violence? what kind of assinine comment is this?

Some Americans on this very site have been prone to make that argument when talking about gun laws, and why there shouldn't be gun control.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Stay strong, Koyuki! I hope that the man is punished and you can put the demons of an otherwise beautiful place to sleep.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

She is a very brave lady and they should have taken care of it on the visual evidence alone. The american justice system is very broken and stupid. That jerk should be executed or shut away for life. And the system offering him a plea deal is the most sickening thing of all. I am proud of her and hope she is ok.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Brave lady and good on her for doing this. I hope she inspires other Japanese women to speak up when they experience any form of crime or injustice, whether it be overseas or in Japan. Their voices have been stifled for so long.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

He took her shoes?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The view of Niagara Falls is infinitely better from the Canadian side. I'm guessing it's probably safer as well.

I think that would be a matter of opinion.

Way to go Koyuki! No mention of costs associated with travel and expenses and hopefully either NY picks up the tab or she is very financially comfortable to follow through with charges against a thug. Go girl go!!!

I think she has a very strong case to win this, usually Niagara Falls is a safe place, been there hundreds of times, never heard of any problems, but this is just an awful thing and No one should have to go through something like this, hope it goes to trial, given the notoriety of the case, she could get a lawyer pro bono, she has a good case in winning this, essentially in this case of what she went through, her travels and other expenses should and most likely be taken care of. Happy to see that she refuses to be a victim and wants to fight this, good for her. Wish her all the strength and all the best.

He took her shoes?

Yes, believe it or not, there are people/gangs (convicts in prison are especially known for this) that will demand you give them your shoes. Either because they look cool or because they can't afford them or they just want to humiliate you.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I have heard from countless Japanese, Aussie and British friends that the U.S. side of Niagara Falls has a rather scary atmosphere and is filthy with rubbish, compared to the Canadian side which - they say - seems very peaceful and more beautiful. Just saying what Ive been told.

All power to Ms. Nakahara - she is a strong and brave lady, and a hero. I hope the criminal scumbag Robert McLeod gets a very, very long stretch in a tough as hell prison where his type belong.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I'm guessing it's probably safer as well.

Oh god, as the article states there are 8-9 million tourists and all you can show is at most 2 grand total incidents of robbery and one assault per year. So in other words you have 1 violent crime per 2.67-3 million people. If you honestly think you are not safe with those statistics then you are being grossly irrational.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I have heard from countless Japanese, Aussie and British friends that the U.S. side of Niagara Falls has a rather scary atmosphere and is filthy with rubbish, compared to the Canadian side which - they say - seems very peaceful and more beautiful. Just saying what Ive been told.

That depends on who you are asking, I have heard the opposite, I lived in NY for 5 years, I think both sides are nice, don't really see THAT much of a difference, but I've heard it all, just depends on what your preference is or where you feel comfortable. But I never saw any crime or people being harassed, not saying it doesn't happen, but scary place, not at all, now if you go late at night, then maybe there is a chance that you can encounter trouble, but I wouldn't advise anyone to go around that time, especially alone.

All power to Ms. Nakahara - she is a strong and brave lady, and a hero. I hope the criminal scumbag Robert McLeod gets a very, very long stretch in a tough as hell prison where his type belong.

I hope so as well.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Fair enough Bass - thanks for the heads-up. I am hoping to see Niagara on both sides some day!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The view of Niagara Falls is infinitely better from the Canadian side. I'm guessing it's probably safer as well.

I think that would be a matter of opinion.

Let the record show that I have NEVER agreed with Bass4Funk... until now. BOTH statements were opinions rather than facts.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A report released last month by the Federal Bureau of Investigation confirm that the city of Niagara Falls has - for the second year in a row - the highest crime rate of any municipality in New York State. The report, entitled "Crime in the United States 2013" shows that the 3,391 crimes reported in 2013 works out to 684 crimes for every 10,000 residents. The city of Buffalo had the state's next highest crime rate, with 15,740 criminal offenses reported, or 608 for every 10,000 residents. http://niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories/2015/JAN06/itso.html

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Having grown up in Niagara Falls area I can attest to the fact that the crime rate and poverty levels in Niagara Falls NY are far worse than Niagara Falls Ontario.

The NY side is plagued by poverty and crime. Some of you posters are mistaking the comment about the level of crime in the state park...that is only a tiny bit of the whole area. No one in their right mind who knows the area would walk around where she walked late at night by themselves.

And yes, the view on the Canadian side is better. Ask anyone who has ever been there. And safer too. Not opinion, fact.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Note the statistic that Niagara Falls NY is safer than 2% of the cities in the USA. Obviously then, 98% are safer. Not the kind of place for a midnight stroll

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ny/niagara-falls/crime/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Brave woman. I found both sides of the falls rather boring, littered, and filled with obnoxious drunks.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

He took her shoes?

He has a serious shoe fetish. Her first hint that something was not quite right with this guy was his focus on her shoes, where she got them, and how nice they looked. Maybe it was the language barrier, but that conversation alone would have scared off most women.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

wtf?!?! so americans are inifitely more prone to violence? what kind of assinine comment is this? the article states that about two robberies occur every year

Nakanoguy,

ABSOLUTELY!! Canada isn't perfect, but is MUCH different & SAFER than the US by a long long longgggggggggg shot!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yes, believe it or not, there are people/gangs (convicts in prison are especially known for this) that will demand you give them your shoes. Either because they look cool or because they can't afford them or they just want to humiliate you.

Well a shoeless victim is less likely to chase you down.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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