‘Twitter killer’ in Japan sentenced to death after killing 9 people

The so-called “Twitter killer” in Japan has been sentenced to death after he killed 9 victims and dismembered their bodies in 2017.

Takahiro Shiraishi, 30, admitted that he killed and mutilated his young victims’ bodies, whom he allegedly met on the social media platform Twitter.

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The victims were between the ages of 15 and 26.

Shiraishi allegedly targeted users of the platform who said they wanted to take their lives and said he could do them and even die with them.

But his lawyers had earlier defended that he should just be imprisoned because his victim agreed to die through their suicidal thoughts.

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A judge ignored it and imposed the death penalty sentence for the crime committed by the Twitter killer in 2017. The judge called it “cunning and cruel,” according to broadcaster NHK.

“None of the nine victims consented to be killed, including silent consent,” said the judge, based on the NHK report.

The judge added that Shiraishi was deceitful and targeted the victims who are “mentally fragile.”

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“It is extremely grave that the lives of nine young people were taken away. The dignity of the victims was trampled upon,” the judge said.

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Twitter killer in Japan sentenced to death after killing 9 people

He said the public is also worried about the crime, especially since social media networks are always used.

Shiraishi, who was wearing a face mask when the verdict was handed down, said he understood the decision.

For the other relatives of the victim, it seems that the man does not regret what he did.

“It didn’t sound at all like he regretted it … It felt like I was being hurt with a sharp knife over and over again,” said the brother of a 25-year-old victim of the killer.

The father of a 17-year-old victim praised the judge’s decision, saying it was right.

“I feel like I want to get revenge, but bereaved families can’t do anything. I don’t know how to vent my anger,” he said.

The Twitter killer was previously detained 3 years ago by police investigating the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman, who at the time tweeted about her desire to commit suicide.

After the woman disappeared, her brother gained access to her Twitter account and noticed that she had encountered a suspicious account.

This led to the search for the killer’s home in 2017, where authorities found his 9 victims’ bodies – including 240 bones in coolers and toolboxes covered with cat litter to hide the smell and evidence.

The Twitter killer confessed to the crime and told the court in November that he was ready to face his punishment.

“I’m ready to admit my guilt and incur the punishment without appealing to a high court,” he said.