Court Discarded All Records Of Kobe Serial Murder Case
A family court in the western Japanese city of Kobe has admitted that it discarded all records of a 1997 serial murder case in which a 14-year-old boy was arrested.
The Kobe Family Court says its handling of the records was inappropriate in view of rules requiring that records of historical value be preserved permanently.
The boy was arrested and sent to a medical juvenile reformatory for killing two children and injuring three others in Kobe 25 years ago.
Internal rules of the Supreme Court stipulate that records of investigations and trials in juvenile cases must be kept until the minors involved turn 26.
But the rules also say records must be kept permanently if they have historical significance.
A notice about the rules cites examples for permanent preservation. They include cases that have captured wide attention and those that may provide valuable insight for research on juvenile delinquency.
The family court says it is unknown when or how the records were disposed of, or what consideration was given. It also called the disposal inappropriate.
Journalist Egawa Shoko, who is well-versed in trial records, has called for scrutiny of the court's step by the Supreme Court and the Diet.
Egawa says the Kobe case prompted toughening of the juvenile law, and that it's surprising that the court got rid of such historically important records.
She says although it may be difficult to look at or use records of juvenile cases under the current system, they could be used to study judicial history or crimes by minors in the long term.
Egawa says the disposal suggests those involved in the judiciary lack awareness that judicial records are official documents and assets shared by the people.