KYOTO (Kyodo) Three Kyoto University students have admitted they gang-raped two female students in December, reversing their earlier denial, police sources said Monday.
Jumpei Shirai, 22, Ryo Ikeguchi, 23, and Masahiro Kido, 22 -- all seniors and former members of the university's football club -- told police that they "did something that may be billed as rape," according to the sources.
The three had earlier denied committing gang rape. Shirai and Ikeguchi claimed the sex was consensual as the women were conscious and able to talk, while Kido said he did not have sex.
But the suspects called their deeds "inexcusable" and offered to apologize to the victims after police told them the women were so drunk they only had vague memories of the night in question, the sources said.
Police suspect the three made the victims drink "shochu," a distilled liquor, and straight vodka as they played drinking games at Kido's apartment in Kyoto on the night of Dec. 22 before the crime allegedly took place early the following day.