Man arrested for 2003 murder of friend in Ibaraki

Monday 07th July, 10:45 AM JST

IBARAKI —

Police on Sunday arrested a 33-year-old man for killing his 23-year-old friend in Tsuchiura Port in January, 2003. Police originally ruled out foul play and said that the victim had accidentally drowned.

Mitsuru Matsuoka, 33, was arrested for allegedly hitting Masanori Mogi, 23, and pushing him into the sea at Tsuchiura Port. According to police, they received an anonymous phone call in May from someone fingering Matsuoka. Police relaunched an investigation. Police said several of the victim’s friends were at the scene of the crime and came forward.

Matsuoka was quoted as saying, “Mogi broke my mobile phone which I rented to him. He wouldn’t pay for the damage, so I got angry.”

8 Comments

mikihouse at 12:09 PM JST - 7th July

I am just wondering why the police did not ask the witnesses during that day. Foul play no...it was an accident. Shame for the lack of investigative capacity of the police force in Japan.
seiosig at 02:39 PM JST - 7th July

Is this sort of motive really plausible? Would a 28 year old (then) man get this angry over a cell phone? Rude friends/roommates/significant others breaking or failing to return personal property is the stuff of mediocre comedians in the U.S. For this to be a cause for murder is sort of "out there". Anyone else think that there were other issues between these two?
Altria at 02:46 PM JST - 7th July

According to police, they received an anonymous phone call in May from someone fingering Matsuoka.

Sounds like a right perv.
Spidey at 03:01 PM JST - 7th July

Never mess with a man and his mobile!

Case and point.

S
franz75 at 03:20 PM JST - 7th July

Murders are complicated. There is a lot of paper work. Most of the time, this a suicide or an accident. Does someone remember about an ex-policeman telling that Japanese police was rarely making autopsies?
mindovermatter at 03:39 PM JST - 7th July

Police said several of the victim’s friends were at the scene of the crime and came forward.

And nobody tried to help this guy or prevent his death....

They're all accomplices to murder.

Oh, but silly me.... This is Japan, where we go by laws written by a 12 year old.
nigelboy at 04:12 PM JST - 7th July

I am just wondering why the police did not ask the witnesses during that day.

Because the body was unidentified until the "tip".
Sarge at 05:21 PM JST - 7th July

"murder of friend"

If he murdered his friend, what did he do to his enemy?