VOX POPULI: The cruel weight of a murdered sister's ashes

"I hold the urn that contains my sister's ashes. Although she was very busy and sometimes complained she was in bad shape, she was always healthy. I feel a healthy weight. What a painful weight." This is how An Irie, whose younger sister was among four family members killed in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward 10 years ago, expressed her feelings.

Murder is an outrageous crime, one that is simply beyond words. The same can be said of the agony of bereaved families. However, because of the statute of limitations, murderers knew that if they kept running from the law long enough, they would never be held responsible for the crimes they had committed. That was guaranteed by the state and it was a legal provision that promised relief to murderers.

The abolition Tuesday of the statute of limitations for serious crimes, including murder, means that criminals can no longer take advantage of the statute to remain free. Fugitive murderers will remain on the wanted list for as long as they live.

The revised law came into force about six hours before the statute of limitations was due to run out for the murderer of an elderly couple in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, 15 years ago. If the killer is still alive, he may as well curse himself.

The statute of limitations was also due to expire in three months on the murder of three women at a supermarket in the western Tokyo suburb of Hachioji.

The legal revision means that the slaying of a Rikkyo University student in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district, the fatal stabbing of a Sophia University student in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward, and the killing that ripped Irie's family apart may still be punished.

At the same time, however, some argue that the reliability of testimony and evidence degrades with the passage of time, and that it becomes increasingly difficult to verify alibis.

Critics say that false accusations and mistaken convictions could result. There is also concern that, without deadlines to meet, the sense of urgency of investigators may be reduced. While making use of this major change in our system of justice, the police must still put their all into their initial investigations.

The abolition of the statute of limitations will neither heal victims' suffering nor drive criminals into a corner. Nevertheless, a ray of hope remains that, one day, perpetrators may be caught. The law was revised to more closely serve crime victims and their families. The change was inevitable and it meets the demands of changing times.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 28

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.