The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department plan to settle a lawsuit with a female musician who, despite asking the police for help, was stalked and eventually stabbed by a fan, sources say.
The woman filed a lawsuit against the Tokyo metropolitan government and other entities, claiming that the police did not handle her case properly, even though she had consulted them about her stalker before the stabbing incident occurred.
A settlement is expected to be reached at the Tokyo District Court on July 28.
The incident occurred in May 2016 in Koganei, western Tokyo. Mayu Tomita, a musician, was 20 at the time.
She was seriously injured when a male fan stabbed her multiple times with a knife near a venue she was scheduled to perform at.
In 2019, Tomita and her mother filed a lawsuit seeking approximately 76 million yen ($514,500) in damages.
They argued that they had consulted with the Musashino Police Station about the man following Tomita before the incident occurred, but the police failed to take action to protect her.
In response, the Tokyo police argued that Tomita’s situation had not appeared life-threatening at the time of the consultation and that the case was handled appropriately.
According to sources, the proposed settlement states that the police “take it seriously that (Tomita) became a victim while the Musashino station was consulting (with her) and will make a consolation payment to her.”
In the proposed settlement, the police maintained that there was “no illegality” in their handling of the case after Tomita’s consultation.
However, Tomita’s lawyer said, “The consolation payment exceeds the usual amount, and we take this as a de facto acknowledgment by the police of the inadequacy of their response at the time.”
The specific amount of the payment has not been disclosed.
Both sides have largely agreed to the settlement proposal, and are expected to reach a formal settlement on July 28.
The Tokyo District Court has recommended the settlement.
In the lawsuit, Tomita’s side pointed out the chief of Musashino station issued an apology about seven months after the incident.
They argued that “there was a failure in the police response and the chief acknowledged it.”
In court last October, Tomita testified, “I felt betrayed when I found out after the incident that the police hadn’t done anything despite my prior consultation.”
Tomita is also seeking damages from the man who stabbed her, who was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison for attempted murder and other charges.
A ruling in that case is also scheduled to be rendered on July 28.
AloJapan.com