A Japanese court sentenced 44-year-old Hiroki Itaya to 14 years in prison Friday for attempting to rape a 25-year-old woman after forcing her to consume 32 shots of tequila. The Nagoya District Court ruled that Itaya intended to sexually assault the victim by bringing her to a hotel. The woman died from acute alcohol poisoning before the assault could occur.
Prosecutors had sought a 16-year prison term, arguing the defendant deliberately incapacitated his victim through extreme alcohol consumption. The case highlights Japan's ongoing struggles with sexual violence and the use of alcohol as a weapon in such crimes. Itaya pleaded not guilty, with his defense claiming he brought the woman to the hotel to care for her.
The victim consumed an amount of alcohol equivalent to approximately 1.6 liters of tequila in a short period. Medical experts testified that such consumption would cause life-threatening alcohol poisoning in most individuals. The court determined this constituted attempted rape through incapacitation, even though the assault was never completed.
The sentencing reflects Japan's judicial approach to cases involving alcohol-facilitated sexual crimes. Women's rights advocates have called for stricter penalties in similar cases, arguing current sentences don't adequately reflect the severity of using alcohol as a weapon. The case may influence future prosecutions of similar crimes across Japan.