Prosecutor Abandoned Appeal, Canceled Death Penalty in 2 Trial, February 10, 16:07
Five years ago, in a case of a man accused of killing five neighbors with a knife in Sumoto City on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, a death sentence was canceled by a second instance court and a life sentence was sentenced. , Osaka High Prosecutor's Office has abandoned its appeal to the Supreme Court. As a result, the death penalty is no longer sentenced.
In March 2015, Tatsuhiko Hirano (45) of Sumoto City, Hyogo Prefecture, was charged with murder and other charges for stabbing and killing five men and women of two families living near their homes with a knife.
The judge trial in the first instance found the defendant in full responsibility and sentenced him to death as per the prosecution's request, while the Osaka High Court in the second instance said on March 27 based on a new psychiatrist, At that time, she was in a state of insanity. ”He canceled the death sentence and sentenced him to life in prison.
The Osaka High Public Prosecutor's Office, which had been seeking the death penalty, was considering responding to the ruling, but abandoned its appeal to the Supreme Court on October 10 stating that "we could not find a legitimate reason".
One defendant has not disclosed whether to appeal, but the prosecution has abandoned the appeal and will no longer be sentenced to death.
There have been seven cases in which two trials have canceled the death sentence of one trial by a judge trial and sentenced to life imprisonment. Of these, this is the third case in which it is decided that the prosecution will not appeal and will not be executed.