Japanese man extradited in murder case hangs self

LOS ANGELES — A Japanese businessman accused of conspiring to have his wife murdered 27 years ago in Los Angeles hanged himself in his jail cell, a few hours after he arrived in the United States to face charges, police said Saturday.

Kazuyoshi Miura, 61, was found in his cell late Friday by a jail officer during a routine inspection, Deputy Chief Charlie Beck, of the Los Angeles Police Department, said Saturday.

"It was apparent that the murder suspect, alone in his cell, had used a piece of his shirt as a makeshift ligature around his neck," Beck said.

Authorities contacted the Japanese consulate general's office, which notified Miura's family in Japan.

Miura's case long has been a high-profile saga in Japan, where Miura was dubbed "the Japanese O.J. Simpson." His extradition had drawn journalists to Los Angeles from dozens of foreign-media outlets, some from as far away as Bangkok, Thailand; Tokyo; and Saipan, the U.S. territory Miura had been visiting when he was taken into custody in February.

Mark Geragos, Miura's attorney, who spoke from New York, said he was notified of his client's death early Saturday by the district attorney's office. "None of this makes any sense," Geragos said.

He said a lawyer had visited Miura earlier and he was in good spirits, complaining only about a little back pain. "There was no indication that he was despondent or depressed," Geragos said. "There was no indication whatsoever of problems. He was ready ... for the fight."

Geragos said he will demand an independent investigation.

Beck declined to answer questions about the motive for the apparent suicide and what the death means to investigators, who had pursued Miura for decades. He said he and Detective Rick Jackson, who was on the plane that returned Miura to the United States, were "shocked and disappointed."

"This was not what we had envisioned for this case," Beck said.

Masara Dekiba, the consul general of Japan in California, was stunned by the suicide. Dekiba spent 15 minutes with Miura Friday and said he looked fine.

Miura asked for his help in making an international telephone call to his wife, and he wanted the consul to make arrangements for special meals because he was allergic to fried food, Dekiba said.

"Why Mr. Miura killed himself, I do not know," said Dekiba, who added that he was upset because he had not "gotten a straight or cogent explanation."

According to California Minimum Jail Standards, cell inspections are required every 30 minutes. Based on preliminary information, authorities said detention officers assigned to the portion of the jail housing Miura had conducted a required cell check and found nothing unusual.

About 10 minutes later, an officer passing Miura's cell "saw what Miura had done," Beck said.

Beck said the department's Force Investigation Division would conduct a "thorough investigation"; the County Coroner's office also will investigate the cause of death.

Miura was accused of plotting to have his wife killed during a visit the couple made to Los Angeles in 1981. Miura was hit in the leg, and his wife, Kazumi Miura, 28, was shot in the head. She died of her wounds a year later in Japan.

A judge issued a warrant for Miura's arrest in 1988, alleging murder and conspiracy, but detectives could not extradite him from Japan.

Miura was convicted of murder in Japan in 1994 in connection with his wife's death, but the verdict was overturned and he was acquitted.

In February, Miura wrote on his blog about plans to visit the U.S. territory of Saipan. He was arrested there on the 1988 warrant as he tried to return to Japan.

He, at first, fought extradition, but last month he agreed to return to Los Angeles after a judge dismissed the murder charge as double jeopardy, given Miura's trial in Japan.

A charge of conspiracy remained. On Thursday, county prosecutors filed for reinstatement of the murder charge, citing a 2004 change in state law that removed double-jeopardy protection for people tried overseas. A hearing had been set for next Thursday.

Miura was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

Prosecutors thought Miura conspired to kill his wife and collect $750,000 in life-insurance payments, possibly by signaling someone to shoot, although no one else has been charged in connection with the shooting.

Detective Rick Jackson, who has been investigating Miura since 1988, noted Friday that even if prosecutors did not prevail in reinstating the murder charge, Miura still could have faced 25 years to life in state prison if convicted of conspiracy.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.