tokyo High Court confirms Indefinite Sentence in 2023 Robbery-Death Case
Tokyo - The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday, september 11, 2025, affirmed an indefinite prison sentence for Hiroyuki Nomura, 54, stemming from a fatal robbery in Komae, Tokyo, in January 2023. The ruling upholds the verdict delivered by the Tachikawa branch of the Tokyo District Court in February of this year.
The case gained national attention as part of a string of robberies orchestrated across Japan by a group operating under the direction of individuals known by the pseudonym “Luffy.” This sentencing marks a notable development in the prosecution of those involved in the spree, and underscores the severity with which Japanese courts are treating crimes resulting in death during theft. The outcome provides a degree of closure for the victim’s family and sends a message regarding the consequences of such violent acts.according to court documents, Nomura, acting in concert with others, assaulted a 90-year-old woman at her Komae residence on January 19, 2023. The assault led to the woman’s death, and the perpetrators stole luxury watches valued at approximately 580,000 yen.
The defense argued that Nomura did not directly inflict violence upon the victim. However, Presiding Judge Masato Ito dismissed the appeal, finding sufficient evidence to support the lower court’s conviction.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
