Photo/Illutration Ryoken Hirayama, who was first arrested on suspicion of destroying two corpses, in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward on April 22 (Shota Tomonaga)

Police filed additional charges in connection with the murder of a Tokyo couple whose charred bodies were discovered in a wooded area of Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, last month.

On May 11, a joint team of Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department and Tochigi prefectural police re-arrested Ryoken Hirayama, 25, on suspicion of murdering Ryutaro Takarajima, 55, and his wife, Sachiko, 56. The couple lived in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward.

Investigators contend the slayings were carried out in the garage of a vacant lot in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward between late April 15 and early the following day.

Hirayama and five other men were previously arrested on suspicion of destruction of corpses.

Hirayama is the first of the six to be re-arrested on suspicion of murder, but according to investigative sources, police believe all six conspired to kill the couple, either by giving instructions or carrying out the grisly deed.

The other five are expected to be re-arrested on the same charge as Hirayama, the sources said.

Hirayama told police he was instructed to murder the couple and burn the bodies to destroy evidence, sources said.

He said he was instructed by Hikaru Sasaki, 28, in early April to prepare the car and gasoline used in the crime. An autopsy showed that Sachiko was bashed on the head with a blunt instrument. A hammer with her blood on it was found in Hirayama’s car, sources said.

Hirayama also told police he instructed two 20-year-olds, Kang Gwang-gi and Kirato Wakayama, to kill the couple, sources said. Hirayama himself never went to the garage in Shinagawa Ward where the slayings took place.

Hirayama also told police that Sasaki gave him more than 10 million yen ($64,200) to show his gratitude for taking care of things. He said he gave 2.5 million yen each to Kang and Wakayama.

Police found roughly 7 million yen in cash at a location linked to Hirayama, sources said.

Police believe that Seiha Sekine, the common-law husband of the couple’s daughter, was the “mastermind” behind the crimes.

Sekine, 32, is said to have encountered problems with the Takarajimas over the management of restaurants they owned. He apparently took umbrage over being an “errand boy” for the couple.

Hirayama served as the liaison between the individual giving the instructions and those who carried out the crime, sources said.

(This article was written by Minami Endo, Shomei Nagatsuma and Hiromichi Fujita.)

Related News