Dead Japanese Man in Jail Cell was Killed, Lawyer Says

Kazuyoshi Miura, who was extradited October 10 from Saipan to Los Angeles into LAPD's custody to stand trial for the 1981 murder of his wife, was found dead in jail cell later that night. Police said it was suicide--they said they found Miurua dead after he used his shirt to hang himself-- but today his lawyer, the well known Mark Geragos, is saying it was murder.

"[Geragos] said the pathologist whom he hired to examine the body found deep tissue injuries on his back that indicated a beating," reported the Daily News. "He also said a hematoma on Miura's larynx could have come from a forced choking. He said the pathologist concluded the injury could not have been caused by a self-inflicted hanging."

ALSO: Asian American blogger Epicanthus was curious about the hat Miura was wearing when he stepped off the plane at LAX. It says Peace Pot Micrdot and according to urbandictionary.com, a PPMD is "a time-honored farewell, wishing other stoners and hippies a happy and high good-bye.”

Miura at LAX on October 10 | AP Photo/Reed Saxon