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Federal court dismisses case vs Sawada
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Posted on Jul 18 2011
The federal court dismissed yesterday the case against Japanese musician and songwriter Taiji Sawada who died Sunday, three days after he reportedly tried to kill himself in his detention cell.
The U.S. District Court for the NMI visiting judge William Q. Hayes ordered the dismissal of the case against the 45-year-old Sawada after the U.S. Attorney’s Office notified the court about Sawada’s death.
Sawada was facing a charge of interfering with the performance of a flight attendant.
The charge arose from an incident on Monday, July 11, when Sawada allegedly became unruly as the aircraft he was on was about to land at the Saipan International Airport. He allegedly punched the plane’s window, kicked the seat in front of him, and assaulted a flight attendant.
Sawada was among the passengers aboard Delta Flight 298. He was in the business class cabin when he reportedly became angry with a female passenger and became violent. The report did not mention what aroused his anger and whether he and the passenger were related.
The following day, July 12, was Sawada’s 45th birthday. He spent it inside the Department of Corrections.
On Thursday night, he was rushed to the Commonwealth Health Center after he allegedly tried to hang himself using a bed sheet. A public health staff disclosed that Sawada had been on life support at the intensive care unit after he became brain dead.
Saipan Tribune learned that Sawada’s family flew to Saipan on Saturday after learning about his suicide attempt. The family made the decision to unhook the life support system. He died Sunday morning.
The Department of Public Safety has yet to release information regarding the detainee’s reported suicide attempt at DOC.
A Japan newspaper reporter told Saipan Tribune that Sawada was a famous bass player in Japan.
