Ibaraki: Man, 39, sentenced to prison in crossbow attack in Toride

Dec 27, 2017 | News On Japan

Dec 27, 2017 (tokyoreporter.com) - The Mito District Court on Tuesday handed down a prison term to a 39-year-old man over a crossbow attack of a male cyclist in Toride City two years ago, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun

At around 1:15 a.m. on April 15, 2015, Toshifumi Kono, 39, fired the arrow from the crossbow at the cyclist, then 47, striking him in the right calf as he pedaled home on a sidewalk from JR Toride Station. The defendant and the victim were not acquainted.

"To target a passerby indiscriminately is an act worthy of strong condemnation," said presiding judge Mayumi Terasawa in handing down the prison term of 12 years and 6 months. The prosecution had sought a 15-year term for the defendant, who was accused of attempted murder.

According to police, the victim said that a white vehicle passed him slowly just before he realized he had been shot. After making it home, his wife drove him to the hospital. The victim endured a two-month recovery period.

Upon arrested Kono, police found a crossbow and six arrows, each 40 centimeters in length, inside his residence. The bolts were identical to the one that struck the victim. It was also determined that Kono owns a white vehicle.

The defense argued that the arrow was deflected off of a curb prior to striking the victim in seeking a lesser charge of inflicting bodily injury. However, the judged ruled that such a scenario was "unnatural."

Source: ANNnewsCH

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