If An American Murdered Someone In Japan While On Vacation

Unless they're a diplomat or have some other special designation, they'd be subject to the legal system in Japan, including the punishment.

Even if they’re a diplomat, it’s very likely that the US would waive the diplomat’s immunity in order to permit prosecution in Japan.

I mean for murder. For manslaughter, maybe not. There was a major flap in the UK when the wife of a U.S. (diplomat, I think) ran over a British girl and then returned to the US rather than face charges. The US did not waive immunity, which personally I think is scandalous.

Murder would be a bridge too far imo. The case I referred to above was an accident.

She killed a 19 year old boy called Harry Dunn, R2.

Japan has very harsh laws and even if you're foreigner, there's no escaping punishment. In fact the punishment may even be more brutal since Japanese don't perceive non-Japanese as equals.

So you basically become property of a foreign country? What happens to all your shit back home?

It gets distributed to the unhoused trans women of course R5

Are you planning to go to Japan and kill someone, dear?

OP, didn’t you know that all Americans are exempt from prosecution in other countries? Because Americans are special. If you commit a crime in another country all you have to do is explain that you’re American and that their laws don’t apply to you.

R2 she was driving on the wrong side of the road it was no accident.

On this, I’ve always felt that the word ‘accident’ for car collisions has given guilty people a kind of linguistic pass, in that you could be drunk, speeding, driving dangerously and on the wrong side of the road and its still commonly referred to as an ‘accident’ which sounds so neutral, like it’s not your fault. Insane.

When foreigners commit a crime overseas, they are charged and convicted overseas, jailed overseas, and then usually deported afterwards.

There are some counties that allow for prisoner exchanges, and allow for individuals to be placed in prisons in their home country. However many countries do not like that because of the risk that the country will decide not to respect the decision of the local legal system and instead will release the convicted criminal.

R9 You clearly do not know the details of the case. The woman lived on the Rigby Air Force Base, and the wife and thus diplomatic passport holder of a diplomat with DoD. On the base, they drive on the same side as the US. When they leave the base, they need to switch over. She had only been living in the UK for a month, so it was easy for her to forget. She was not speeding or drunk.

It was an accident and seeing as how the UK is tragically light on all criminal, I am sure she would have received a suspended sentence. However, the family freaked out and she left. That is where she loses my sympathy; she should have stayed to face the consequences. But, it was an accident.

Of course his family freaked out. The dumb bitch killed their son because she was driving on the wrong side of the road. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve only been here a month.” That’s not an accident, it’s a death caused by her reckless and irresponsible conduct.

R12 No, you idiot. I mean the family of the woman who hit someone freaked out. That is why she left.

No one is defending her here so calm down, MARY!

She was not a diplomat. Neither was her husband. There was no diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention.

Rather, Britain had agreed in a private side letter to grant immunity to spouses of certain US personnel assigned to that base. It was never clear under what statutory authority the government granted that immunity, though.

She was clearly too stupid to hold a license.

So the Rigby Air Force Base has magically relocated to Japan?

Don't forget, OP, hanging is the punishment for murder in Japan and courts there convict almost every single time.

Yes, the Japanese justice system is extremely problematic. Basically, they just lock you up in very harsh conditions until you confess. No bail, no Miranda rights, nothing.

That's why Carlos Ghosn went to such an extreme length to escape the country when they allowed him house arrest. Of course, he could afford it. No one who wasn't a multi-millionaire could have done it.

So don't murder anyone in Japan if you can help it, OP.

Did Amanda Knox teach you nothing, OP?

R11. How dumb do you have to be to forget that they drive on the left side of the road in the UK?

If the person was in the military or related to someone in the military, they would most likely get off without punishment of any sort.

It’s been an ongoing issue since American occupation of Japan since wwii.

There have been some brutal cases, including gang raping of little school girls.

Paul McCartney murdered some flowers by burning them in Japan and look what happened to him!

Sounds like OP is planning a dastardly act while visiting Japan.

At a minimum you will be doing years of hard labor in Japan.

A consular officer might swing by with vitamin packs and official wordsmithing.

Best to just stay in Mother's basement.

[quote] She had only been living in the UK for a month, so it was easy for her to forget.

Lol you’re so stupid R11. Ignorance isn’t an excuse. Could she still be driving on the wrong side 6 months down the line and claim it as an accident. This is only one area where I’ll agree with insurance companies in that in almost every vehicle accident someone is at fault. And she was at fault. Driving on the wrong side of the road = her fault. She should be in jail.

And you should get your head checked. Based on others comments it also seems that you’re not so clear on the details of the case x

R25, No, I know the details. Where did I get it wrong?

An accident doesn’t mean she isn’t at fault. It just means it wasn’t on purpose.

R26 see R14. You were wrong about the spouse being a diplomat, he was an intelligence officer.

Would you say manslaughter is an accident also since you don’t leave the house intending to do it?

Also let’s remind ourselves that she had previously been fined for dangerous driving in the states.

OP has clearly never seen an episode of "Locked up Abroad".

I lived and worked in Japan for two years.

There is no death penalty in Japan, but the conviction rate is between 95 and 97 percent, which is why crime statistics there have always been remarkably low. No trial by jury; cases are heard and ruled on by panels of three or five judges.

A life sentence of prison with hard labor is what would be given a murderer.

Mandatory seppuku.

Honey, if they didn't kill Logan Paul while he was there, then they're no better than us.

Wait, what's this thread about?

OP, let me ask you a question: If I, as a Dutchman from The Netherlands (that's a country in Europe, OP), were to kill someone in America while vacationing, would I do time in an American jail? And if it were to happen in one of the states where capital punishment is still a thing, would I be sent to death if guilty?

[quote]I lived and worked in Japan for two years. There is no death penalty in Japan

You sure about that?

Anyone who says "there's no death penalty in Japan" is an ignorant imbecile, more so if they actually lived two years there.

If you are used to driving on the right, are living on a base where everyone drives on the right, have a car with the steering wheel on the left, and are pulling out onto an empty road with no traffic, YES, it is very easy to end up on the wrong side. I’ve done it a couple times on a motorbike. Fortunately no one (ie, me) got hurt. Traffic roundabouts are particularly tricky. It’s easier when there is more traffic to subconsciously remind you what side of the road to drive on.

[quote]OP has clearly never seen an episode of "Locked up Abroad".

Never heard of it.

There is not an easy answer to this question. If you managed to flee before being caught and make it back to US soil, I’d actually bet that the US would not agree to send you back (especially if you’re rich or connected). Same answer to the question from Dutchie above, especially if in a death penalty state.

If you’re caught before you can flee, you’ll be in the Amanda Knox situation and will have to face the music.

R35 "She was driving a British-model Volvo SUV, with the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle."

Of course they drive on the left at RAF Croughton. Look at Google Earth.

And there's no roundabout exiting the base.

Any other baseless excuses to offer?

R33 & R34 Thanks, I stand corrected. When I lived there years ago, they didn't have the death penalty on the table.

Guess they brought it back.

R39 No no no. Japan never abolished the death penalty. There have been justice ministers though who've been reluctant to sign death warrants, so there have been extended periods without executions.

Okay r38. I was responding based on what I read here and I thought she was driving a US vehicle because I know some people bring their cars over, don’t ask me why but they do. The roundabout was just an example how it’s easy to get confused driving clockwise vs counterclockwise, keeping an eye on the traffic behind you and crossing over to exit on the correct road. I’ve found it very nerve wracking.

Having the steering wheel on the right should’ve been enough of a subconscious signal to get in the correct lane. I don’t agree with her fleeing back to the US and hiding behind possible diplomatic immunity. It was an accident. She wasn’t going to be sent to prison.

It was not an accident. She was driving and not exercising due care. When you're behind the wheel you can't let your mind wander. Else you could kill somebody.

While I'm not a supporter of capital punishment, for mass murderers, I could care less about a state executing them for their crimes.

You may add child abusers, rapists, human traffickers and hedge fund managers to that list, R43

You may also add anyone who says "could care less" to the list.