A Japanese man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for deliberately running over and killing his workplace supervisor with a dump truck at a quarry site in Kitakyushu City, Japan.
The incident took place at around 2:30 p.m. on Friday, October 4, 2024, in Kokuraminami Ward.
The Fukuoka District Court’s Kokura branch handed down the sentence on Thursday (June 12, 2025).
The defendant, 62-year-old Hiroyuki Takahashi, was found guilty of murdering Yuji Yamazaki, 51, and attempting to kill two other men, a co-worker and the site manager, who were present during the incident but escaped unharmed.
Defense Claimed It Was Unplanned
According to Japan Today, Takahashi’s defense team argued that the killing was not premeditated, asking for a lighter 13-year sentence.
They claimed his actions were the result of an emotional breakdown, rather than an intent to kill.
However, the court rejected the defense.
Judge Says Frustration Doesn’t Justify Murder
Judge Junpei Miyoshi noted that while the defendant may have been unhappy with his work environment, that dissatisfaction did not justify committing murder.
The court concluded that Takahashi’s actions were fueled by a deep and prolonged resentment toward his colleagues.
Attempted to Hit Two Others
In addition to Yamazaki’s death, Takahashi also tried to run over two other people at the quarry: a fellow worker and the site manager.
Fortunately, both were unharmed. Takahashi was also convicted for these actions, according to reports.
Built-Up Anger at Work Led to the Attack
The court found that the motive behind the killing stemmed from years of bottled-up frustration and anger in the workplace that eventually pushed him over the edge.
While the judge acknowledged that job-related stress can take a serious toll, he made it clear that it’s never a valid reason to resort to violence.
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