Start of Appeal Against Murder Conviction
Nicolas Zepeda, a Chilean man convicted of murdering his Japanese ex-girlfriend Narumi Kurosaki in 2016, began his appeal against the conviction in a French court. Zepeda, sentenced to 28 years in jail in April last year, vehemently denied the charges at the opening of his appeal trial in the town of Vesoul, exactly seven years after Kurosaki was last seen. Notably, Kurosaki’s body was never found.
Protestations of Innocence
“I did not kill Narumi,” asserted Zepeda, now 32, speaking in French in court. He expressed strong opposition to the accusations against him and conveyed the challenging experience of the legal process. Zepeda, who learned French while in prison, conveyed his empathy for Kurosaki’s family, acknowledging the immense grief they carry.
Delay in Appeal and Family’s Perspective
The appeal process faced a delay in February when Zepeda’s lawyer was changed at the last moment. Sylvie Galley, representing Kurosaki’s family, emphasized that the family attended the trial to honor Narumi’s memory and not with the expectation of revelations, confessions, or the truth from Nicolas Zepeda. Maintaining hope for such outcomes, according to Galley, would be destructive for the family, who had already mourned Narumi.
Family’s Hope for Exoneration and Defense’s Strategy
Humberto Zepeda, the defendant’s father, expressed the desire to see his son exonerated and challenged the certainty surrounding Narumi’s death. He emphasized the scientific impossibility of confirming her death and raised concerns about the basis of the conviction. Renaud Portejoie, Zepeda’s lawyer, acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming trial but expressed readiness to make it distinct from the first. The defense may present a new psychiatric examination and introduce new witnesses to change the dynamics of the case.
Background of the Case
Narumi Kurosaki, a brilliant scholarship student, arrived in Besancon, France, in the summer to learn French but disappeared on December 4. Zepeda, her former boyfriend, was the last person seen with her. The prosecution, during the first trial, asserted that Zepeda could not cope with the breakup and traveled to Besancon to kill Kurosaki before disposing of her body in the Jura region’s forests. Witnesses, telephone records, and geolocation of Zepeda’s rented car were cited as evidence during the initial trial.
SOURCE: Ref Image from amateur sleuth
Whether writing about complex technical topics or breaking news stories, my writing is always clear, concise, and engaging. My dedication to my craft and passion for storytelling have earned me a reputation as a highly respected article writer.