Lay judges say trial time was tight

Japan's first lay judges described their experience as stressful. They said it was hard to deliberate and hand down a ruling in just four days.

The trial, held at the Tokyo District Court, closed on Thursday. Six lay judges and three professional judges tried a murder case. They sentenced the male defendant to 15 years in prison.

After the ruling, a male lay judge told reporters that the schedule was tight. He said he got tired because he had to handle a vast amount of information, adding that he had to check the record and other documents even during the 30-minute breaks.

A female lay judge said it was difficult to draw conclusions in such a limited time.

Defense lawyers needed more time than usual to prepare for the session. They said they had to work through the night on the eve of their closing arguments.

The court had estimated that four days would be enough for lay judges to settle the case, where the defendant had admitted the charges.