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Belgian Police Close to 2007 'Manga Murder' Victim ID
posted on by Gia Manry
The international online newspaper Expatica.com reports that the Belgian police may be close to identifying the victim of the 2007 "Mangamoord" case, in which hikers found several body parts in a park. The nickname, which means "Manga Murder," comes from the notes left near the body which read "Watashi wa Kira Dess." The phrase is an apparent misspelling of the Japanese phrase "Watashi wa Kira desu," or "I am Kira (Killer)," a reference to an alias used in Tsugumi Ooba and Takeshi Obata's Death Note suspense manga series.
Police spokesperson Jean-Marc Meilleur said that a photo of the reported victim had been recognized by the four men who were arrested in September in relation to the case, as well by a family. However, Meilleur added that further scientific testing is necessary before the victim is positively identified.
Three of the suspects were charged with the murder, and one was charged with "failing to provide assistance to a person in danger." The police said that the victim may have lived with the suspects, and added that the four men were manga fans. During their arrest, the four men said they did not know the alleged victim's name, although he lived with them. The police's theory is that the four men asked the victim to leave their home, and the argument that ensued resulted in the victim's death.
File Photo © Belgian Federal Police
