News
Singer in Knife Attack Regains Consciousness
posted on by Karen Ressler
20-year-old idol Mayu Tomita (pictured at right, no relation to the former AKB48 member of the same name), who was in critical condition after having received nearly two dozen stab wounds on the neck and chest on May 21, has regained consciousness. Sankei News reported that, though the wounds in her neck area were particularly deep, her heart and internal organs were not damaged.
The Sanspo news website reported on Tuesday that the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office began a psychiatric evaluation of 27-year-old suspect Tomohiro Iwazaki on Monday to determine if he can be held criminally liable for the time of the offense.
Police found Iwazaki at the scene and have arrested him on the charge of attempted murder. According to police, Iwazaki allegedly admitted that he had stabbed Tomita due to her returning a gift he had sent her, without clearly explaining the reason why. He had allegedly been waiting for her at the station to ask her about the gift.
Police have stated that Tomita approached them about Iwazaki earlier this month, claiming that he had been sending her messages on Twitter and on her blog.
Tomita was scheduled to perform at a venue in Koganei, Tokyo on the night of the attack. Singer Ray and idol unit AŌP . cancelled their scheduled handshake events the same weekend.
Sources: Sanspo, Sankei News, 47 News via Hachima Kikō
