3 Kyoto Univ students admit to gang rape

3 Kyoto Univ students admit to gang rape: "3 Kyoto Univ students admit to gang rape

Monday, February 6, 2006 at 16:07 EST

KYOTO — Three Kyoto University students have admitted to allegations that they gang raped two female university 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 American Gangsters football club — told the police that they 'did something that may be billed as rape,' according to the sources.

The three had denied the gang rape allegations earlier. Shirai and Ikeguchi asserted 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 showed intention of apologizing to the victims after the police told them that the women were so drunk they only had vague memories, 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 in the morning the following day."