Stalker learned victim's married name, address during police questioning

Crime Nov. 10, 2012 - 03:15PM JST ( 55 )

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55 Comments

8

NeverSubmitNov. 10, 2012 - 06:42AM JST

Legally, the police must name an accuser to the accused.

I'm pretty sure more Western countries have the same law.

The Bill of Rights in most countries guarantee that if you're accused of a crime you have the right to know who your accuser is.
13

NeverSubmitNov. 10, 2012 - 06:45AM JST

because harassment by email is not a crime

No kidding, otherwise Rakuten and Amazon would get the death penalty.
4

HonestDictatorNov. 10, 2012 - 06:47AM JST

In retrospect, measure SHOULD have been taken not to disclose her details. In my career field we have this wonderful list of procedures under HIPAA, where personnel are never allowed to mention a person's name, address, conditions etc, unless that person comes up to us and signs a form stating that we can share that information.

The "professional" law enforcement really needs a crash course in better proper procedures when dealing with criminals and victims of crime.
1

darknutsNov. 10, 2012 - 06:54AM JST

Legally, the police must name an accuser to the accused.

I'm pretty sure more Western countries have the same law.

This is true but they could have given just her first or maiden name and certainly not her address. What were they thinking!?
2

mitoguitarmanNov. 10, 2012 - 06:57AM JST

I think it's high time to start training J-cops.
8

alladinNov. 10, 2012 - 07:03AM JST

J-cops only go by the book without using any common sense at all. J-cops need to be taught on how to use their brains rather than to just follow a book that was created by someone from the 13th century. The procedures that they are following today are outdated and needs to be revamped to match up with today's society. Until the J-cops realize this, these things will continue to take place on any given day.
3

TamaramaNov. 10, 2012 - 07:17AM JST

This makes the police look negligent, naive and pretty incompetent - all of which resulted in a death. Imagine how powerless the girl, the victim, felt through all of this?

It's a sad world at times, this mortal coil.
-5

Cortes ElijahNov. 10, 2012 - 07:18AM JST

Just another sad murder here. There is no need to point fingers. In the end the person that committed the crime is the one whose fault it is.
0

shimonetadaisukiNov. 10, 2012 - 07:45AM JST

The stalker could have made a good detective.

Neversubmit is right, the police have to give the accuser's name, and some information of the location, the guy just knew how to put the pieces together and do some investigative work on the web. If there is any lesson to learn from this, it is that if you change your name and move to a different location to escape your stalker, change your email address.
4

paulinusaNov. 10, 2012 - 07:54AM JST

Well, HE knew who she was, so they could have just given her maiden name and noted that her address was being protected. Is that so difficult?
3

GWNov. 10, 2012 - 08:01AM JST

the keystones shud be sued & shud lose bigtime, but no we will just be reading about the next stalker victim that the keystones cud to nothing about.

The keystones are very good at doing nothing in these parts
1

DisillusionedNov. 10, 2012 - 08:21AM JST

This is terrible news. It just shows there is no real protection from stalkers. It also shows stalkers they only have to get arrested to fine out where their stalkee lives. So, the message is, if you are being stalked, move house, but don't tell the cops. On the positive side, the way the law is set up it will give the police time to attend more important criminal offenses like checking bicycle registrations. X_X
0

hobart_markNov. 10, 2012 - 08:21AM JST

These police need to be held accountable because they are responsible for this poor women's murder....
-1

Elbuda MexicanoNov. 10, 2012 - 08:30AM JST

This idiot cop or cops should at least be arrested!!
0

sfjp330Nov. 10, 2012 - 08:32AM JST

Why didn't she change the e-mail address and not respond at all? Why did she go through troubles of making charges of stalking to police. Your making a accusation so you know it's mandatory with Police procedure that you have to disclose personal information. Police was just following a proper procedure.
0

TamaramaNov. 10, 2012 - 09:01AM JST

It's just not reasonable policing. He first threatens to kill her - gets arrested but cops a whopping suspended sentence and then continues to harass her. Even if he has stopped verbalising his desire to kill her, it doesn't, and evidently didn't mean his desire to do so has ceased. And considering he sent 1000 emails? Sheer volume alone tells you he is obsessed and entirely unreasonable.

Putting A plus B with C he is obviously dangerous, not learning lessons and is best to spend a little time at the Emperor's leisure, far, far from an innocent citizen who desrves a little more due dilligence from her police force. That's what she paid them for.
-1

tairitsuikenNov. 10, 2012 - 09:14AM JST

The procedures that they are following today are outdated...

Tell me about it:

Repeatedly sending faxes or harassing by constant telephone calls, however, is an offense, police noted.

Is that a common occurance here. Harassment by fax?
1

cl400Nov. 10, 2012 - 09:23AM JST

Use common sense J-Police! If someone is threatening to kill someone via any form of communication, it is still a threat and should be taken seriously. This guy repetitively threatened her and what did the cops do about it? Let him go free again... oh, and gave him more info which in turn led to her death. I don't know about the law but surely there are ways to identify the victim during an interview without giving the offender such information like their new name and address.
-2

NeverSubmitNov. 10, 2012 - 09:40AM JST

Don't forget that the J-cops have been under intense scrutiny over their treatment of detainees and suspects.

The cops are following procedures because they could just as easily be accused of breaching human rights by arresting someone, interrogating them and refusing even to provide the name of the accused, which is a legal requirement.

How would you feel if you were arrested by the cops and they interrogated you and refused to even tell you who it was that accused you of the crime. It's a gross violation of your human rights.
0

sfjp330Nov. 10, 2012 - 09:49AM JST

TamaramaNov. 10, 2012 - 09:01AM JST It's just not reasonable policing. He first threatens to kill her - gets arrested but cops a whopping suspended sentence and then continues to harass her. Even if he has stopped verbalising his desire to kill her, it doesn't, and evidently didn't mean his desire to do so has ceased. And considering he sent 1000 emails? Sheer volume alone tells you he is obsessed and entirely unreasonable.

People make threats everyday. If you work as a police officer, you run into constant domestic violence, and husband or wife will say in a heated moment "I am going to kill you". However, of thousands and thousands of threats every year in Japan, how many will actually follow through with the threat? If you take all the threats seriously, and investigate everyone of them deeply, you might not have any manpower to run a police station. Regardless, if somebody wants to kill somebody, very little police can do. You can arrest him for threatening, but sooner or later he will be out free on the street. They can't guard her 24 hours a day.
-1

BijayNov. 10, 2012 - 10:18AM JST

Japanese cops are the worst when it comes to protecting life. They are very excellent at arresting for traffic violations. We need a second amendment kind of law here for self protection.
1

LH10Nov. 10, 2012 - 10:26AM JST

jesus! japanese police really are the most moronic people! police aren't allowed to give that type of info away to some random stranger can they?! wow makes me real angry. RIP
1

gaijinfoNov. 10, 2012 - 10:30AM JST

This is sad, not only because this killer played the cops so well, but because it's absolutely typical of not only Japanese police, but Japanese professionals in general.

By the book, as polite as can be, but ZERO common sense. It's like other countries set up a system of rules and laws to actually protect people and keep bad guys from getting their way. I feel like in Japan, they set up laws so it will give those in authority a reason to deflect responsibility. See? We followed the Rules! It's not OUR fault!
0

fidaruzkiNov. 10, 2012 - 10:48AM JST

While it's not uncommon for criminals using loop holes in the laws for their advantages, the police force and law makers need to buckle up too.

Law makers need to look through arcaic and ancient laws that are not suitable for modern society and the police force should use their common sense in dealing with.

In this case, from what I see it, although he cease the threat tactics and only email his request on massege boards about the husband, red flag should be up because he had,in the past, a history of stalking the ex-girlfriend.

At some point of his life, he must have known that particular law and how to go about it.
1

hoserfellaNov. 10, 2012 - 11:16AM JST

In what other country outside of the 3rd world does going to the police for help actually complicate your problem? This woman would be alive today if she had not involved the ketstones
1

hoserfellaNov. 10, 2012 - 11:18AM JST

This is sad, not only because this killer played the cops so well, but because it's absolutely typical of not only Japanese police, but Japanese professionals in general.

gaijinfo - he didn't even "play" them, as you say. The keystones gave him the info gratis.
1

Lew ArchieNov. 10, 2012 - 11:24AM JST

Tamarama - This makes the police look negligent, naive and pretty incompetent - all of which resulted in a death.

Well to me it seems as though it's the piss-weak laws designed to protect the rights of criminals which led to this murder. Civil Rights strike again.
1

southsakaiNov. 10, 2012 - 11:24AM JST

I said it yesterday in my comment, as crazy as it sounds the police is not going to help you, and here today this news comes out on JT.

It's through the negligence and incompetence of the cops, and the justice system overall that this freak got through and did what he did.

He needs a solid hiding. All stalkers need a good solid hiding so they can use their hands and legs no more! And the cops can stay in the koban and chow down on bento because instead of saving you, they'll most probably screw everything up.

I've seen less extreme cases with my own eyes countless times. They are more concerned stopping me 2 times a day checking my bike. If real crime arrives in Japan, they are so totally screwed.
0

southsakaiNov. 10, 2012 - 11:25AM JST

hoserfellaNOV. 10, 2012 - 11:16AM JST In what other country outside of the 3rd world does going to the police for help actually complicate your problem? This woman would be alive today if she had not involved the ketstones

Well hoserfella, for once we're on the same page!
0

AlphaapeNov. 10, 2012 - 11:29AM JST

J-cops only go by the book without using any common sense at all. J-cops need to be taught on how to use their brains rather than to just follow a book that was created by someone from the 13th century.

The longer I stay here, the more I believe that certain parts of this society do still cling to the same belief systems, and don't reckognize that people and attitudes have changed and they get left behind. You may be right about police thinking. They tend to think that criminals will follow a certain behavior, and that they will follow the guidance set forth by the police without them realizing that people just don't think like that. Maybe some of the older generation may but not today's younger generation. You see the same song and dance with the police and the yakuza, each are supposed to follow their assigned roles and it looks like the police only arrest whenthey fall too far out of their role. No forward thinking on prevention seems to be the case.

I am sure some cop near retirement and one that is young will get replaced for fired for this, but no major reforms will come out of this tragic death.
-1

FrungyNov. 10, 2012 - 11:36AM JST

Lots of rage here against the police, but I believe it is inappropriate. If they HADN'T executed the arrest warrent entirely by the book then this guy would have walked. Likewise they couldn't legally arrest him since the laws didn't cover emails. This wasn't a j-cop fail, it was a japanese legal system fail.

I think that the criticism of the j-cops (in this specific instance) is unfair and illogical. Rather write to the diet in Tokyo and get them to update the laws and ask for stronger sentencing for harassment.
1

smithinjapanNov. 10, 2012 - 11:48AM JST

Frungy: The anger towards police here is perfectly justified. When one isn't busy publicly groping a woman (even for the camera!) another is running away from an accident he or she caused while drunk, while another one is stabbing the victim of a robbery, while another is allowing the criminal to escape out a back window while the officer(s) wait outside the front door, while others leave the back door of the police station open for the criminals to escape, while others are giving divulging information that is confidential, and the rest simply cannot do their jobs. For every story where we can applaud the actions of an officer (and I know, of course, that misdeeds and accidents will be reported before good news) there are at least 20 incidents of complete ineptitude if not outright crime committed by the keystones.

The accused does indeed in many nations have the right to know his or her accuser, but they most certainly could have found a way to avoid giving her current married name. And the address?? There is no way the stalker had the right to that information.

Chalk another one up for the keystones.
-2

smithinjapanNov. 10, 2012 - 11:50AM JST

Frungy: "I think that the criticism of the j-cops (in this specific instance) is unfair and illogical. Rather write to the diet in Tokyo and get them to update the laws and ask for stronger sentencing for harassment"

Again, in most cases it has nothing to do with the laws and more to do with the inability to enforce them or even follow them. Is groping not against the law? Drinking and driving? panty theft? Hell, most police don't even know the bicycle laws that have been in place for years, so how would changing the laws help with their ineptitude?
2

NeverSubmitNov. 10, 2012 - 11:56AM JST

You can bemoan the cops as much as you want for being "stupid" but they're legally obligated to provide the accused party with specific information about the accuser.

It's the law.

They are cops, they have to follow the law.

The accused's lawyer can easily sue the cops if they don't follow the law and provide the legally required information to the accused.
0

sillygirlNov. 10, 2012 - 12:00PM JST

WOW way to go. give the info to the stalker. geez - i think i can safely say - WHAT IDIOTS!!!!!!!!
0

Lew ArchieNov. 10, 2012 - 12:38PM JST

NeverSubmit - The accused's lawyer can easily sue the cops if they don't follow the law and provide the legally required information to the accused.

Well said! The police are just the tool of the lawmakers and anyone living in a western democracy would recognise the police don't have the right to use any independent thinking or common sense.
0

pointofviewNov. 10, 2012 - 12:59PM JST

Arrest the police involved and throw them in the slammer.
1

smithinjapanNov. 10, 2012 - 12:59PM JST

NeverSubmit: "You can bemoan the cops as much as you want for being "stupid" but they're legally obligated to provide the accused party with specific information about the accuser."

They are required to give the ADDRESS of the accuser even when the accuser has been stalked, and the stalker prohibited from coming close to her? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Based on that logic a criminal being prosecuted by a witness in the federal protection program has the right to that person's new name, address, and whatever else have you -- or if said details have not taken effect yet, has the right to their hotel address information. If it were Japan, no doubt they would gladly hand over the info -- especially if it were for their yakuza pals.
0

NeverSubmitNov. 10, 2012 - 01:37PM JST

Based on that logic a criminal being prosecuted by a witness in the federal protection program has the right to that person's new name, address, and whatever else have you

A witness cannot prosecute the defendant. In that case the state (county, crown, Federal government etc) is the accuser.

There's a difference between witness and plaintiff.

In most criminal cases, the state is the plaintiff, in this case, one person, the lady brought about the complaint, hence she is the plaintiff, and by law the accused party has a right to know who is accusing them.

Don't blame the messenger. Like it or not, the law is the way it is. You can't get angry at me or the cops for following the law.

Especially since if it were the other way around and the cops failed to fairly tell a detainee who is issuing the complaint then no doubt JT's army of armchair posters would disparage the cops for being inhumane and not respecting the rights of defendants.
3

Badge213Nov. 10, 2012 - 02:18PM JST

Ah once again people blaming the police when the people they should really be blaming is the politicians and the laws. Of course all too common here on j-today are people who want to blame the police for every single thing wrong with the world just so they can get their "keystone" cops comments out.
0

tatsujapanNov. 10, 2012 - 02:44PM JST

Wow! I couldn't stop laughing when I read smithinjapan's post listing all the stupid mistakes the J-cops have done so far! Hilarious!! When you think they reached the top of the dumbest mistake ever they come with something brand new, even more astonishing mistakes!! It seems like they are competing to the funniest police in the World! Nowhere else the police are so stupid! In 3rd World countries police are corrupt, their purpose is money that's a way different than just being dumb for no reason.
1

jonobugsNov. 10, 2012 - 02:47PM JST

I have to agree with Frungy and a few others on this forum. While I'm in no way praising the police, they are put in an impossible situation here. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. The real problem lies with the Japanese judicial system. That needs to be changed. It's like blaming a mail carrier for bringing you junk mail.
0

lucabrasiNov. 10, 2012 - 02:52PM JST

@Badge

Very well said. The police-bashing on this site gets truly sad at times.
1

konjo4uNov. 10, 2012 - 02:55PM JST

Restraining orders in the US often come with a warning before you file it. The guy just might get madder, and until he does something else the police cannot come after him.
0

Craig DandridgeNov. 10, 2012 - 04:04PM JST

Protect and Serve: Aside from providing street directions, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department does not seem to be particularly helpful or useful. Under Japanese law, criminals seem to have more rights than victims of crime. The police and the courts seem to exist in a world apart from the rest of us. They protect and serve themselves, not the people.
-2

Elbuda MexicanoNov. 10, 2012 - 04:19PM JST

Only arresting these stupid cops is not enough! Off with their heads! Well at least arrest them and make sure they get fired from the police force and take away all of their retirement benefits too!
0

WilliBNov. 10, 2012 - 08:36PM JST

" A man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in Japan learned her new married name and the area where she lived from police officers who arrested him for stalking her "

You gotta be kidding. We are used to police bloopers here, but this one takes the cake.
2

crouching$amuraiHiddenNinjaNov. 10, 2012 - 11:46PM JST

incompetent, useless, defenseless, and completely ignorant and arrogant.
0

skroknogNov. 11, 2012 - 12:52AM JST

Badge213NOV. 10, 2012 - 02:18PM JST Ah once again people blaming the police when the people they should really be blaming is the politicians and the laws. Of course all too common here on j-today are people who want to blame the police for every single thing wrong with the world just so they can get their "keystone" cops comments out.

Did you read the article or even the headline? Of course people are blaming the cops in this case...because they are to blame! I'd post the headline for you so you can read it this time:

*Stalker learned victim's married name, address during police questioning * The laws did not force the cops to hand over this information - it was their own stupidity.
-1

LowlyNov. 11, 2012 - 02:53AM JST

Obviously avoidable tragedy. re Neversubmit and others who said it's the guys right, yeah, the name and perhaps former address or just name of original hometown city would've been more than enough. Stalkees should be able to expect reasonable protection from the cops.

But not a surprise to me.

I once found a human body part on a hike, and being a good citizen, called the police, then waited around for them to show up (all the while shuddering in fear that a killer would notice he'd dropped a body part and return for it!) Long story short, while they listened to my story, the guy whose property it was showed up. After they took the details of how I found it, including my PERSONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT INFO, WORKPLACE ETC, the cop turned to him, the owner, next to him, with his notepad open, and ALL MY INFO plain to see, and started getting that guy's story. If the guy was a killer and had any need of retribution against me, it wouldn't have been tough for him to visit it upon me. He had a good ten to fifteen mins to read my address and particulars.
0

YardleyNov. 11, 2012 - 05:44AM JST

I would like the police officers responsible to visit her parents and husband and apologize on their knees. Whether they were "just following the rules" or not, they should recognize and take responsibility for the events they set in motion. I would like to see some sign of remorse.
1

Jessica Marie SatoNov. 11, 2012 - 11:36AM JST

I am so sorry for her husband who now has to pick up the pieces after such a horrible tragedy.
0

SasorizaNov. 11, 2012 - 03:06PM JST

Actually just now they announced that the guy knew the victim's address long before the questioning. He had hired private detectives to find out Miyoshi's address and they had handed him the info days before the questioning.
0

Dennis BauerNov. 12, 2012 - 03:03PM JST

@Badge213

really? only the politicians are to blame? how about those officers used some commen sense! It is easy to hide behind rules and regulations!
0

FadamorNov. 13, 2012 - 12:33AM JST

Stop blaming the cops for doing what they're told they HAVE to do. Until the politicians change the laws, the police's hands are tied. Those of you calling for common sense have never had a perp walk free because the cops didn't follow procedure, have you?

As I see it, the woman took the easy way out and didn't change her email address. I guess informing all her friends of the new address would have been too much. This was the first (and ultimately fatal) mistake. When someone is threatening you, you have to sever ALL connections.