Japan’s move to charge teen whose suicide caused woman’s death sparks debate

A decision by Japanese authorities to prosecute a 17-year-old girl whose suicide resulted in another woman’s death has ignited controversy and debate over the reasons to target the deceased in the case.

Critics have condemned the move as pointless and a waste of resources, arguing that prosecuting a dead teenager serves no practical purpose.

Legal analysts contend, however, that while the girl would never be held legally accountable for the charge of gross negligence resulting in death, proceeding with the prosecution could assist in any civil claims filed by the woman’s family and potentially deter others from endangering innocent bystanders while attempting to take their own lives.

The incident occurred on August 31 when the unidentified girl from Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, went to an open space on the 12th floor of the NEWoMan shopping complex above Yokohama Station. She scaled a 2.5-metre glass barrier around the public area and leapt from the west side of the building in the afternoon.

She landed on a female pedestrian, 32-year-old Chikako Chiba, who was walking with three friends. The girl was pronounced dead at a local hospital about one hour later, while Chiba died in the same evening, national broadcaster NHK reported.

Yokohama police have referred the case to prosecutors on the grounds that the girl was old enough to understand that her action might cause harm to others and asked that an indictment be recorded.