Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for a man accused of killing a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo. 

Prosecutors seek death penalty for girl's murder

Yasumasa Shibuya, who is 47, is charged with killing Le Thi Nhat Linh in March last year after kidnapping her on her way to school in Matsudo City. Her body was found in a nearby city.

Shibuya was the head of the school's parents' association at the time.

Prosecutors told the Chiba District Court on Monday that there is plenty of evidence to substantiate the suspicion that Shibuya killed the girl. They said his DNA was found on the victim's body.

The prosecutors also said it is clear that Shibuya strangled the girl to death after kidnapping and molesting her.

They said it was an abnormal crime targeting the weak and was extremely malicious. They added that Shibuya is cold-hearted and cruel with no conscience.

The defense counsel said the accused is not the culprit, and the prosecutors have failed to fully prove their case.

Shibuya maintained his innocence again. He asked the judge and lay judges to make a fair decision and bowed to them.

The court is due to hand down a ruling on July 6th.

3.nhk.or.jp