Japanese trader shot dead in bed

A Japanese businessman was shot dead in his sleep by at least two unidentified assailants yesterday morning inside his bedroom in his Parañaque City home.

Police identified the victim as Hiro Murokami, 58, of 166 Levitown street, Better Living Subdivision.

He sustained six gunshot wounds in various parts of the body and died on the spot, said city police chief, Superintendent Roland Estilles.

Estilles said Murokami’s wife of 20 years, Carmelita, awoke and found the bloodied corpse of her husband on the bed. Carmelita, 57, claimed that she did not hear any gunshots even as she slept on the floor beside the bed where the victim slept.

His wife has yet to explain why she slept on the floor that night, Estilles noted.

Their 19-year-old son, who left the house before dawn to jog, also said he did not see anyone enter the building. Both wife and son said all the doors of the house were open when the crime was discovered.

Investigators gathered that at least two assailants gained entry into the house at around 4:30 a.m. after the son went out.

Estilles said that the assailants did not take anything from the house, leading investigators to discount robbery as a motive. He said the killing could be business related.

Murokami exported pebbles to Japan. Carmelita’s four children from a previous marriage helped managed the business, Estilles noted.

All occupants of the house would be subjected to a paraffin test, he said.

Police discovered six empty shells of a caliber .45.

Estilles said the gunmen could have shot Murokami at least a meter away. – Nikko Dizon