Iwate man accused of incest denies allegations as trial opens

The Mainichi Shimbun
May 21, 2008
Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080521p2a00m0na007000c.html

MORIOKA -- A man accused of hurting his adopted daughter in an attempt to rape her has denied the allegations during the opening of his trial here.

Tsuginobu Ito, 47, unemployed of Kuzumaki, Iwate Prefecture, told the Morioka District Court that he was not guilty of a charge of rape resulting in the injury of his 17-year-old adopted daughter.

"I had no intent in sexually assaulting her," Ito told the court.

Ito is charged with climbing atop his adopted daughter and assaulting her with the intent of raping her at their home on the morning of July 2, 2007. The daughter sustained knee injuries as she resisted him, Ito's charge sheet says.

Prosecutors told the court Ito had sent his wife an e-mail in which he admitted to performing indecent acts on their daughter and admitted to the acts he is charged with.

Defense lawyers, meanwhile, said the daughter had been sending and receiving obscene e-mail over her mobile phone, so Ito tried to take it away from her and she was injured in the struggle that then ensued between them.

(Mainichi Japan) May 21, 2008