In the case where nine bodies including a young woman were found in an apartment in Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, a judgment was handed down at the Tachikawa Branch of the Tokyo District Court on the 15th to a defendant accused of murder-robbery.
While the prosecution has sought the death penalty, lawyers have asked to avoid the death penalty, saying that they have agreed to kill the victim, and it will be interesting to see what the decision will be.
In October 2017, in the case where the bodies of nine men and women were found in an apartment in Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Takahiro Shiraishi (30) invited him on SNS to sexually assault him, killed him, and robbed him of cash. He was charged with murder and robbery.
At the lay judge trials held 23 times from September at the Tachikawa branch of the Tokyo District Court, the main issue was whether the victims had agreed to be killed, and the prosecution said, "Every victim resists, etc." The defendant's lawyer sought the death penalty for "not consenting to the killing", while the defendant's lawyer avoided the death penalty saying "the victims went to see the defendant in hopes of dying and had consented to the killing." I'm asking you to.
Meanwhile, the defendant said in a trial, "I killed nine people for financial and violent purposes. I didn't consent."
The ruling is scheduled to be handed down from 2:00 pm on the 15th, and it will be interesting to see what kind of judgment will be shown in this case where the lives of nine people invited by SNS were taken one after another.
Case progress and trial trial
The incident was discovered three years ago in October 2017.
When an investigator from the Metropolitan Police Department visited an apartment room in Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, triggered by the provision of information on the missing woman's family, nine men and women between the ages of 15 and 26, including high school girls and college girls. The bodies of were found one after another.
Defendant Takahiro Shiraishi, who lived in this room, was arrested on suspicion of abandoning his body and charged with murder-robbery and other charges for sexually assaulting him, killing nine people and robbing him of cash.
The trial began in September at the Tachikawa branch of the Tokyo District Court, and 23 trials were held to conclude the trial.
"Did you consent to the killing of nine victims?" Was the biggest issue, but the defendant fully acknowledged the charges and all the victims consented to the killing. He claimed that he did not, and it was an unusual development that was inconsistent with the lawyer's claim.
Defendants answered the prosecutor's and judge's questions plainly, but remained silent on many of the attorney's questions.
He said, "I said that I would like to accept the indictment and end the trial as soon as possible because it would be a nuisance to my relatives, but my hope was not accepted."
The hearing was divided into three groups of nine victims, in which the defendants consistently killed nine victims for sexual assault and cash stealing, all of whom were killed. Claimed not to consent.
The prosecution said, "The crime is planned, sneaky, ruthless and bizarre. It ignores the human rights and dignity of the victims and is extremely vicious. In two months, it has claimed nine young precious lives, except for the capital punishment. There is no choice, "he said, seeking the death penalty.
On the other hand, the attorney said, "It is very doubtful that the evidence examined in court revealed the victim's concrete resistance. The defendant's testimony is consistent with the objective facts. I can't say that. "
He demanded that he avoid the death penalty for confined murder and sexual assault, and all the trials were over.
Defendant's remarks at trial
The trials have been held 23 times so far, and Shiraishi testified plainly about the motives and details of the case.
Regarding the issue of "did the victim consent to be killed?", He made a different claim from the attorney, saying that "none of the victims consented."
Regarding the reason, the defendant said, "I would like to acknowledge the content of the indictment and end the trial as soon as possible because it will cause trouble for my relatives." Although I initially agreed, at the stage of arranging the issues, "I will fight as a lawyer." My hope was not accepted. I have a betrayal at the root. "
When asked why he admitted the indictment, he said, "I thought about whether to remain silent or murder with consent, but I felt the magnitude of the matter and decided to give up and confess."
Regarding the motive and background, he said, "I had a bad time with my father who lived with me, so I thought about leaving the house to feed a woman or pulling money. I was worried about my experience of scouting a woman who works at a sex shop. I thought it was easy for the woman to argue with me, so I took action on Twitter aiming at the woman who muttered "I'm tired" and "I want to die". "
He said, "If I can meet you, I will praise the woman's appearance, dig deeper into my worries, gain trust, and determine if it will be money. If it is not money, I will sexually assault and be reported. I killed him to prevent him from doing so. "
The judge asked me several times, "Did I even have to kill him?", But when the defendant refused, "I was asked to repay the money I had borrowed from the woman who was the first victim." I was in prison because I was on probation because I was in danger of being blackmailed. I thought I shouldn't be killed. "
For the second and subsequent women, he repeated explanations such as "If you sexually assaulted and returned alive, you would be notified and killed."
When asked if he regrets the case, he said, "I regret that I failed because I was caught as a result. If I wasn't caught, I wouldn't regret it."
When asked about apologizing to the victims, he said, "I would like to apologize to some victims. I will be quietly pleaded guilty and punished. I'm really sorry."
On the other hand, he said, "I really regret some victims, but I can't have deep regrets for some victims." When asked about the difference, "the time spent I think it was the length, the family environment, and the person who led to the arrest. "
Regarding the judgment, he said, "I think it's a capital punishment. I don't want to bother my relatives, so I will quietly plead guilty and be punished without appealing."
9 victims
The prosecution said in court about the nine victims of the case:
Mr. A (21-year-old woman at that time)
I was 21 at the time.
I had a painful experience of losing a friend who tried to commit suicide with me in the past.
Because of his kind, responsible, and compassionate personality, he blamed himself, suffered, and repeatedly attempted suicide.
Among them, I worked diligently as an office worker with the support of my warm and understanding family and friends, and tried to live positively while overcoming the difficult past.
He was killed before that.
Mr. B (15-year-old woman at that time)
At that time, I was a 15-year-old first-year high school student.
I was the only daughter, I belonged to the drama club at school, and I was blessed with friends and lived a fulfilling student life.
I went to Gunma from a distance on the day, but I reconsidered and clearly withdrew my intention to commit suicide.
After that, returning to the defendant's room may have been difficult just before he was absent from the opening ceremony.
Perhaps he couldn't refuse the invitation of the older defendant over 10 years old.
Mr. C (a 20-year-old man at that time)
Although I was on leave, I was a music-loving bandman who worked as a long-term care supporter at a support facility for people with intellectual disabilities.
He had a past attempted suicide and also sent a negative message.
However, from the stories of my parents and LINE's message that "I will live properly from now on", I can see that he was a young man with a clear hope to live, even though he was worried.
Mr. D (a 19-year-old woman at that time)
I was a sophomore in college and my only daughter.
After going on to school, I made friends, often went out for lunch and shopping with my mother, and just before the incident, I was looking forward to eating at the restaurant of the three family members.
The year after the incident, we were planning to have a coming-of-age ceremony and prepared kimono.
The parents were looking forward to seeing their daughter's sunny appearance, but could not finally see it.
Mr. E (a 26-year-old woman at that time)
He had a 6-year-old daughter at the time with his divorced husband.
Sometimes she was mentally uneasy because of her mother who had been raised with strict affection and her ex-husband who continued to support her, but she was raising her daughter with affection.
Mr. F (17-year-old woman at that time)
I was in the third year of high school.
My dream for the future was to be a teacher in the infirmary, because I wanted to encourage the students who came to the infirmary.
In the past, I've hinted at suicide and worried my friends, but maybe I wasn't confident in myself and just wanted to see my friend's reaction because I had a lonely side.
I was attacked where I slept.
Mr. G (17-year-old woman at that time)
High school junior.
He loved singing, was a hard worker, a hard worker, and a kind family-friendly child.
I learned how to make dumplings as a part-time job and promised to make them with my father.
I was looking forward to a school trip and Disneyland's promise with friends, but I couldn't fulfill it.
Mr. H (25-year-old woman at that time)
I had been withdrawn for many years, but since I started working part-time at a convenience store six months before the incident, my facial expression became brighter.
I was telling my family that I wanted to save money for my future living alone, get married and have children.
Mr. I (a 23-year-old woman at that time)
He lost his beloved mother in June of the year of the incident and was saddened.
I started living alone in a group home a month ago and was aiming for independence with the support of my brother.
Statement of the bereaved family in court
In the courtroom, the bereaved family stood on a testimony stand with a shield and demanded that the defendant, who had killed the victim who was trying to live, be put to death.
(10/7) The mother of a woman who was 21 years old at the time of the first victim revealed that the woman had applied for teaching materials to qualify for a personal computer just before the incident, and let's live while suffering from work etc. I testified that I was.
He then appealed to the defendant, saying, "I want you to leave the world soon. I want you to have the same eyes as your daughter."
(11/25) The father of a man who was 20 years old at the time of the third victim said, "I was so bloody that my eyes became pitch black when I found out that one of the victims had a son. I felt like I was being pushed down a cliff, and I couldn't think of anything. As I learned about the incident, I was shocked by the cruel content that I could manage myself. "
He said, "My son may have suffered to death temporarily and was ill, but I was convinced in the trial that he would have recovered if he had removed the suffering. I strongly hope for a capital punishment for the devilish work that preyed on human weaknesses and robbed my son of the future. "
(11/25) The mother of a female college student who was 19 years old at the time of the fourth victim said, "I get the illusion that my daughter is coming home saying'I'm home', but I can't stop crying when I think I'll never come back. No. As long as I live, this suffering will continue. I want my daughter and a happy life to be returned. That's all, "he testified in tears.
(10/26) The ex-husband of a woman who was 26 years old at the time of the fifth victim said, "There is no doubt that she was kindly loving her children. Although she was not wealthy, her food and clothes prioritized her children over herself. Then, I had a feeling of compassion for others. I also wanted to live with my daughter again somewhere. "
He revealed that his 9-year-old daughter, who did not know that the woman had died, still asked, "Where did your mother go?" And told the defendant, "I can't forgive you honestly. I want you to suffer from the death penalty." I complained.
(11/10) The mother of a woman who was 25 years old at the time of the eighth victim said, "I want to get married and have children by about 30 years old," and even if I say "I want to die." I don't think I'll die from myself. "
"The defendant has robbed his daughter of an irreplaceable future. I want her to atone for her sins," she said.
While the bereaved family was making statements, the defendant sat lightly on a chair, folded his arms, closed his eyes, listened, and occasionally took notes.
Defendant's Attorney Claim
Defendant Shiraishi's attorney has claimed that he was only guilty of consenting to murder, saying that "all the victims had agreed to be killed," and has shown a willingness to dispute the responsibility of the defendant at the time of the case.
The attorney said that the allegations differed from the defendant: "The reason why the defendant pleaded guilty was the desire to give up and end the trial as soon as possible. The" consent "of the consent murder also includes an implied consent that is not spoken. Included. If you give up the feeling that "if you give consent, the investigation and the trial will be prolonged," the facts will not come to light. We want to clarify the truth. "
After that, regarding the nine victims, "I expressed my desire to die on SNS, connected with the defendant, exchanged specific information about death such as date, place, method, etc., and sent it to the defendant at my own will. I went. "
Regarding the prosecution's allegation that "when the defendant strangled, none of the victims resisted and did not consent to the killing," he said, "Did the defendant's statement reveal a concrete state of resistance? It's a question. It's just that the body responded not to resistance but to suffering, and it's impossible not to make a slight movement. "
In addition, the prosecution's claim that "the defendant's statement is consistent" is "just in line with the objective facts and is inconsistent. The prosecution makes the defendant's statement important evidence, but the investigation stage It has changed so much that it cannot be said to be trivial in the courtroom, and I cannot trust the statement about the existence of consent. "
Furthermore, regarding the results of the doctor's appraisal that "the defendant has no mental illness," he said, "I have to say that some investigations are inadequate. It cannot be said that another doctor may change the conclusion." He added, "It is hard to believe that the defendant, who has successfully completed the tragic and horrific incident that claimed the lives of nine people one after another, has no mental illness."
He insisted, "Although crimes such as sexual assault and corpse damage are established, the death penalty is limited to consent murder. The death penalty cannot be selected for these crimes."
Victim's father "I want to say'live more and suffer'"
The father of a 17-year-old high school girl in Fukushima City told NHK before the decision, saying, "My daughter is still alive and growing in my head, so I'm dead. I still don't feel like that. It's easy to die, and that's what the defendant wants, so I don't want him to be easily eased by the death penalty. I want to say, "Live more and suffer." talked.
Victim's junior woman "If the result is to clear the minds of seniors"
A junior woman who belonged to the same club activities as a high school girl in Fukushima City responded to NHK's interview before the decision, saying, "I really forgive the defendant who acted to betray the person who had trouble. I'm full of feelings that I don't have. I've involved many people, not just one, so I'd like you to give me some punishment. I hope the results will clear the minds of my seniors. "
On top of that, "I was watching in the news, but I didn't think that such an incident would happen in my immediate surroundings. I was really scared that an incident could occur on SNS at any time. With various people on the net nowadays. It's an era when I get involved, so I want to be careful. "