Overview

• Seima Saito, 26, of Togo Town in Aichi Prefecture, was indicted on murder on August 28 in connection with the February 15 incident in Nagoya’s Midori Ward.
• An indictment alleges Saito struck Akiko Kinoshita, 58, pulled her under the van, and drove while swerving for about 146 meters at roughly 39 km/h, causing fatal multiple injuries.
• Nagoya prosecutors had earlier pursued Road Traffic Law charges for drunk driving and hit-and-run, with a negligent-death count held in reserve, and they have now dropped a negligent-injury count as they proceed on murder.
• The prosecutor’s office has not disclosed the defendant’s plea, and the traffic-violation case remains before the court.
• Aichi Prefectural Police arrested Saito on the day of the incident, and a former prosecutor, Toru Suzuki, noted the driving pattern could support an inference of intent.