The visiting chairman of Swiss elevator maker Schindler Holding Ltd. offered his condolences Friday but denied criminal responsibility for a 2006 accident in which a teenage boy was killed by a malfunctioning Schindler elevator.
At a news conference during his first visit to Japan since Hirosuke Ichikawa, a 16-year-old high school student, was crushed to death nearly three years ago, Alfred N. Schindler said he believes the company bears no criminal responsibility.
He extended his condolences to the boy's family on behalf of the company.
On June 3, 2006, Ichikawa became wedged between the elevator and the floor frame of the apartment building in Minato Ward, Tokyo, when the lift suddenly started ascending with its doors open when he was about to get out on the 12th floor, where he lived.
Ken Smith, then president of Schindler's Japan arm, resigned over the fatal accident.
