SAITAMA — Prosecutors demanded a six-year prison term Thursday for a 20-year-old Filipino man, the first non-Japanese to be tried before a lay judge court since the new criminal trial system began in May.
But his counsel said 3 1/2 years would be more appropriate, as the defendant was a minor when he committed his crimes and deeply regrets them.
The six lay judges and three professional judges at the Saitama District Court are to hand down a verdict Friday afternoon. They have been hearing his case since Tuesday.
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