SAITAMA — Prosecutors demanded a six-year prison term Thursday for a 20-year-old Filipino man, the first non-Japanese to be tried before a lay judge court since the new criminal trial system began in May.

But his counsel said 3 1/2 years would be more appropriate, as the defendant was a minor when he committed his crimes and deeply regrets them.

The six lay judges and three professional judges at the Saitama District Court are to hand down a verdict Friday afternoon. They have been hearing his case since Tuesday.