The victim, Rie Miyoshi, was stabbed to death at her home in Zushi on Nov. 6, 2012. The stalker, her former boyfriend, obtained her address from the city government through a private detective. The stalker, 40, killed himself at the murder scene immediately after taking her life.
The damages lawsuit was filed by the victim's husband, 47, who demanded that the city pay 11 million yen for infringing on the victim's privacy by leaking her address. In handing down the ruling at the court's branch in Yokosuka in the same prefecture, Presiding Judge Isao Maesawa recognized the privacy violation.
Maesawa pointed out that Miyoshi had requested the Zushi municipal government to restrict access to her personal information because she was being stalked.
The city illegally abused its authority, the judge said, noting that a staff employee at the Zushi government's tax collection division provided her address in a telephone call in November 2012 from a former male employee of a research firm who pretended to be her husband, without confirming the identify of the caller. "The victim suffered significant psychological damage," he said.
News On Japan - Nov 26
Panicked passengers on a Shinkansen bullet train were evacuated at a central Japan station on Friday night, after a plastic bag containing suspicious liquid was found onboard.
News On Japan - Nov 26
A 29-year-old man has been arrested for meeting an underage teen girl, with sexual intent, after sending her messages, promising to make her "the happiest in the world".
News On Japan - Nov 25
Inui Street, the famed autumn walk within the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo, opened to the public from Saturday.
News On Japan - Nov 25
Nissan Motor Corporation has announced plans to transition all its vehicles produced in the United Kingdom to electric vehicles (EVs).
News On Japan - Nov 25
A JR West Japan train conductor has been arrested for secretly filming eight women in the toilet of the express train "Haruka" while on duty.
News On Japan - Nov 25
Tofukuji Temple, home to 2,000 maple trees and renowned as one of Kyoto's premier autumn hotspots, features the Tsutenkyo Bridge, and the breathtaking 'sea of autumn leaves'.
News On Japan - Nov 25
The strongest cold snap of the season has brought a dramatic drop in temperatures to northern Japan, where snow began falling Friday morning, with up to 50 cm expected in Hokkaido and Tohoku by Saturday evening, and a chance of blizzards.
News On Japan - Nov 24
It's Shichi-Go-San, the Japanese festival season for celebrating the healthy growth of children, with Aibo the robot dog giving prayer at a shrine in Fukuoka, on Friday.