Hokkaido courts impose 27- and 30-year sentences in separate murder cases

A Hokkaido district court sentenced Riko Uchida to 27 years’ imprisonment for kidnapping, assaulting and throwing a female high‑school student from a bridge in Asahikawa. The verdict was delivered on 22 June after nine court sessions; Uchida remained calm throughout, shedding tears only when questioned by prosecutors about remorse.

In a separate case, the Sapporo District Court handed down a 30‑year prison term to 21‑year‑old Yaon Kawamura for his role in a 2022 robbery‑homicide at a park in Ebetsu, where university student Kazuya Hase was beaten to death. Two co‑defendants received 20 years and a juvenile term of 9‑13 years. The court noted Kawamura’s involvement in initiating the assault but said his direct contribution to the death was limited.

Both verdicts underscore Hokkaido’s judicial response to violent crimes, with lengthy custodial terms reflecting the severity of the offenses and public demand for accountability.