Spurned female stalker turns to voodoo


The case took an interesting turn when the authorities searched Sakaguchi's residence and turned up a "noroi no wara ningyo," a
straw doll used in Japan since ancient times for the purpose of voodoo-type curses. The doll was tacked to a board bearing the name
of Sakaguchi's female rival; a pair of 5-inch nails had been driven into the torso.

The 35-year-old man met Sakaguchi the end of last year and the two began living together in her apartment. But he soon became
unnerved over her possessiveness, manifested in the form of pathological jealousy, and moved out four months later. Subsequently
Sakaguchi broke into the man's home, cut up the neckties and articles of clothing she claimed to have given him, and bent the shafts
of his golf clubs.

Between April 24 and June 10, the man allegedly received over 600 telephone calls and email messages from Sakaguchi on his cell
phone. When he began a relationship with another woman, Sakaguchi also sent her a barrage of threatening messages warning her to
"Keep your hands off him," and "I know where you live."

After the man reported Sakaguchi's stalking to the police, she was summoned to the station four times, but obstinately refused to
appear on the grounds that "people have the freedom to love."

Concerned that Sakaguchi's verbal intimidation might escalate to physical assault, police finally moved on the complaint and
arrested her. They found the voodoo doll in a cardboard box during a search of her residence, together with a manual explaining the
correct procedure for putting curses on their intended victims.

"We're surprised that dolls like this are being sold on the open market," said one cop. "We may investigate where she obtained it."

Such dolls are widely available from mail order firms and via the Internet. They are priced from 700 yen and up.

June 30, 2003

"Simple Simon" wrote in message ...


No, stalking is stalking your physical body - not sending
e-mail. If and when he gets close enough to you so you
can hear his voice then that will fit the definition of stalking.

I think a threatening phone call is considered stalking, too
but e-mail is probably stretching it a bit.


"Jonathan Ganz" wrote in message ...
Well, he keeps emailing me. Does that count?

"Simple Simon" wrote in message
...
How is it that you confuse your website with your person??


"Jonathan Ganz" wrote in message
...
To stalk:

To follow or observe (a person) persistently, especially
out of obsession or derangement.