IBARAKI –
A 29-year-old man accused of killing his pregnant former girlfriend, a nail artist in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, admitted the fees at his first trial on September 14, with prosecutors saying he used monitoring tags to find the girl after deciding he needed to kill her and “reset” his life to earlier than their relationship.
The killing occurred on New Year’s Eve in 2025 at an condo in Mito.
Haruka Komatsumoto, 31, was killed at her dwelling after being struck within the head and stabbed within the neck.
Komatsumoto had married in July 2025 and was 5 months pregnant on the time of her dying.
Takumi Ouchi, 29, a former boyfriend of Komatsumoto, was arrested on suspicion of homicide three weeks after the killing.
At his first trial on September 14, prosecutors detailed the occasions they are saying led to the assault.
Ouchi started courting Komatsumoto in January 2024, however she instructed him she needed to finish the connection round November that yr.
Unable to just accept the breakup, Ouchi repeatedly tried to contact her, however Komatsumoto rejected all of his makes an attempt, prosecutors mentioned.
He additionally tried to achieve her by means of acquaintances, however these efforts have been unsuccessful.
Prosecutors mentioned Ouchi ultimately got here to imagine that by killing Komatsumoto, he may “go back to before the relationship and reset his life.”
Five days earlier than the killing, Ouchi purchased a stuffed toy of a preferred character and hid a lost-item monitoring tag inside it that might transmit location data.
He positioned the stuffed toy in a cardboard field and left it exterior the doorway of Komatsumoto’s household dwelling, disguising it as a prize that had been despatched to the winner of a promotional contest.
The following day, Komatsumoto took the stuffed toy again to the condo the place she lived along with her husband.
Using location information from the monitoring tag, Ouchi then started spending time round Komatsumoto’s dwelling, prosecutors mentioned.
On the day earlier than the killing, he purchased a hammer that may later be used as a weapon in addition to a hat and different gadgets for a disguise.
On the day of the assault, Ouchi allegedly hooked up one other newly bought monitoring tag to the license plate of Komatsumoto’s automotive utilizing adhesive tape.
After utilizing the system to find out her location, he waited till Komatsumoto returned dwelling, then approached her condo carrying a cardboard field whereas posing as a supply employee.
When Komatsumoto opened the entrance door, prosecutors mentioned Ouchi used the cardboard field to dam her view earlier than repeatedly putting her within the head with the hammer.
He then allegedly took a kitchen knife from contained in the condo and stabbed her within the neck.
Asked by the presiding choose whether or not there have been any errors within the costs in opposition to him, Ouchi replied, “No.”
The protection is just not contesting the allegations however intends to argue over the suitable sentence.
The courtroom is scheduled at hand down its verdict on September 30.
Source: FNN