Prosecutors served a fresh arrest warrant Thursday on a criminal defendant for allegedly intimidating a woman who testified against him in court.
They said Eiji Watanabe, 43, threatened the woman Monday as his trial got under way at the Tokyo District Court.
Judicial experts said it is extremely unusual for a defendant to be served an arrest warrant for intimidating a witness and making remarks during a trial.
Watanabe is charged with beating and injuring the woman, a fortuneteller in her 30s, on a street in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, on Nov. 18.
In court Monday, the woman said during cross-examination by a prosecutor that she cannot forgive the attacker and hopes he will be severely punished.
Watanabe, who pleaded guilty to the injury charge, shouted during her testimony that he would attack the woman again and all fortunetellers in Japan. The presiding judge ejected him from the courtroom.