Mayu Tomita, reflecting on the events, still bears a scar on her right hand from the stabbing incident that occurred nine years prior.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has resolved a lawsuit with a female musician who was stalked and subsequently stabbed by a fan, despite seeking police assistance. The woman had previously consulted with the police about her stalker before the attack.
The musician filed a lawsuit against the Tokyo metropolitan government and other related entities, alleging that the police mishandled her case. A settlement was reached at the Tokyo District Court on July 28, according to the plaintiff's lawyer.
The incident took place in May 2016 in Koganei, western Tokyo. At the time, Mayu Tomita, a musician, was 20 years old. She sustained serious injuries when a male fan attacked her with a knife near a performance venue.
In 2019, Tomita and her mother initiated a lawsuit seeking approximately 76 million yen in damages. They claimed that they had informed the Musashino Police Station about the man's stalking behavior before the attack, but the police failed to provide adequate protection.
The Tokyo police countered that Tomita's situation did not appear life-threatening at the time of the consultation and that the case was handled appropriately. The settlement was reached after the police agreed to provide a consolation payment to Tomita. The specific amount of the payment has not been disclosed.
Tomita’s lawyer stated that the payment exceeded the usual amount, which was seen as an acknowledgment by the police of the inadequacy of their response. The lawsuit also highlighted that the chief of the Musashino station had issued an apology about seven months after the incident, acknowledging a failure in the police response.
During court proceedings last October, Tomita testified that she felt betrayed when she learned that the police had not taken any action despite her prior consultation. Tomita was also seeking damages from the man who stabbed her, who was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison. The district court ordered the man to pay Tomita approximately 76 million yen.
5 Comments
Fuerza
It's important the police are acknowledging their error in how they responded to the stalking situation and that she is compensated for it. I hope she is receiving mental health support.
Manolo Noriega
Sending strength and healing to Mayu Tomita. I can't imagine the fear she went through. It's imperative police protocols are now under review.
Fuerza
I appreciate the courage Mayu Tomita showed in fighting for justice. Stalking and harassment are serious issues impacting many people across the globe.
Ongania
The story serves as a reminder of the importance of support systems for victims and the necessity of effective protocols for law enforcement, so incidents like this do not happen again.
Fuerza
This is a heartbreaking story; the scar is a painful reminder of police failure. This should be a wake-up call to law enforcement on how to take violent threats more seriously and not delay their response.