14-jähriges Mädchen wegen angeblicher Bedrohung der Familie des Ikebukuro-Unfallopfers vor Staatsanwaltschaft gestellt

A 14-year-old high school student has been referred to prosecutors for allegedly sending threatening emails to the local government and other organisations, mentioning the name of Takuya Matsunaga, who lost his wife and daughter in the Ikebukuro car crash. The emails contained messages like “Shall I kill you for your wife and daughter?” and were said to have disrupted operations. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, the student reportedly told investigators she thought that by making threats, she might be able to find someone to talk to about her own problems.

The student, a 14-year-old girl from Yokohama, is suspected of sending the emails in September this year. In them, she referenced Takuya Matsunaga, who lost his wife, Mana (31), and his daughter, Riko (3), in a tragic car crash in Ikebukuro five years ago. The emails contained disturbing messages such as: “Are you sad your wife and daughter died? If it’s too hard for you, shall I kill you instead?” These emails were sent to the Matsuyama City Hall and the bereaved families’ association, with the intent to disrupt their operations, as well as directly threatening Matsunaga.

Matsunaga, now 38, had been giving a lecture in Matsuyama city in October, where the local authorities took measures by assigning security staff to protect him.

The student allegedly sent the threatening emails from her home computer. When questioned by the police, she reportedly stated that she was struggling with personal issues but had no one to talk to. She thought that by making threats, she might be able to get the police to direct her to someone she could confide in.