91仓库

A 23-year-old woman accused in the 2024 fatal fall of a teenage girl from a suspension bridge in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, pleaded not guilty Monday, in the trial’s first hearing.

Riko Uchida is standing trial on suspicion of murder, indecent assault without consent resulting in death, and confinement over the death of a 17-year-old high school girl.

“I had no intention of killing her, and I did not cause her to fall from the bridge,” Uchida said at the Asahikawa District Court.

The trial, presided over by Judge Yuka Tanaka, is scheduled to conclude after eight hearings, with a ruling expected on June 22.

In the trial of a 21-year-old woman accused of conspiring with Uchida, it emerged that the incident began after the victim posted an image of Uchida on social media without permission. The acquaintance testified that Uchida “pushed her in the back and caused her to fall” and is expected to appear as a witness in Uchida’s trial.

The defense, however, argued during pretrial proceedings that witnesses heard screams and the sound of the victim falling into the river after Uchida had already left the scene. Defense lawyers in Uchida’s trial have indicated they will contest allegations of conspiracy to commit murder and the direct act of killing, as well as the causal link between the alleged indecent assault and the victim’s death.

According to prosecutors, Uchida conspired with the woman on April 18 and 19, 2024, to confine and assault the girl, saying, “How are you going to take responsibility for it?”

Prosecutors allege the victim was then forced to sit naked on the railing of Kamui bridge over the Ishikari River in Asahikawa while the suspects filmed a video of her apologizing.

The indictment says they shouted phrases such as “fall off” and “die” before causing her to plunge into the river and die.

The 21-year-old woman was sentenced to 23 years in prison by the same court in March last year, which was later finalized. She is currently serving the sentence.