2 women arrested for suspected murder of high school student in Hokkaido

Two women were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murdering a high school student in April by throwing her off a bridge into a river in Hokkaido, northern Japan, police said.

New arrest warrants have been issued against 21-year-old Riko Uchida and a 19-year-old woman for allegedly causing the girl to fall 10 meters from the girder of a suspension bridge into the water in a mountainous area of ​​Asahikawa on April 19, police said.

Police suspect the incident happened after the victim posted a photo of Uchida on social media without her permission. Police did not disclose what relationship the three had, nor whether the suspects have admitted the accusation.

The two suspects, who were arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse without the girl’s consent, are said to have threatened the girl, locked her in a car and taken her to the bridge, police said.

Uchida was also arrested along with a 16-year-old boy for threatening the girl and taking her money on April 18. Uchida, the boy, the 19-year-old suspect and a 16-year-old girl were arrested on suspicion of locking the victim in a car from April 18 to 19.

The victim was found downstream in late May after being reported missing by his relatives on April 22. The cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning.