Body of slain Japanese journalist returns home

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 25 August 2012

Mika Yamamoto's body was repatriated to Japan from Turkey after she was killed while reporting in Syria. Her remains will undergo an autopsy before the funeral.

Summary

TOKYO: The body of Mika Yamamoto, the veteran Japanese journalist killed while covering the civil war in Syria, has returned to Japan from the Mideast.

Her coffin was unloaded from a Turkish Airlines aircraft Saturday as the pilot and crew saluted her, and airport officials observed a moment of silence.

Yamamoto's two sisters, as well as colleague Kazutaka Sato, were aboard the same flight from Istanbul.

Yamamoto and Sato, both with independent TV news provider The Japan Press, were traveling with the Free Syrian Army in the northwestern city of Aleppo on Monday when Yamamoto was fatally wounded in crossfire between rebels and government forces.

Sato said the 45-year-old's body will be handed over to Japanese police for an autopsy for further investigation, before a wake and a funeral are held. - AP

KEY POINTS:

• Mika Yamamoto was a veteran Japanese journalist.
• She was killed while covering the civil war in Syria.
• Her body was returned to Japan from Turkey.
• The incident occurred in Aleppo during crossfire.
• An autopsy will be conducted before her funeral.