Suspect ‘wanted to punish victim’

This picture shows school children praying for their friend Ryota Uemura at a riverside area in Kawasaki, suburban Tokyo where Uemura's naked body was found. Picture: Jiji Press

This picture shows school children praying for their friend Ryota Uemura at a riverside area in Kawasaki, suburban Tokyo where Uemura's naked body was found. Picture: Jiji Press

Published Mar 2, 2015

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Tokyo -

A Japanese teenager arrested last week in connection with the death of a 13-year-old boy has admitted to killing him with a box-cutter, local media reported on Monday.

The 18-year-old suspect told police he wanted to punish the victim, Ryota Uemura, for revealing that the older boy had violently attacked him before, the Kyodo News agency reported, citing unnamed investigative sources.

Police believe the 18-year-old played the key role in the murder.

Two other suspects, both 17 years old, told police that he assaulted Uemura, Kyodo said.

The body of Uemura was found on the bank of Tama River in Kawasaki city, near Tokyo, on February 20.

An autopsy indicated he died from haemorrhagic shock due to blood loss from the stab wounds to his neck, the report said.

Sapa-dpa

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