Death sought for Japan “Twitter killer” over 2017 serial murder

Prosecutors on Thursday demanded the death penalty for a man dubbed Japan’s “Twitter killer” after he was indicted over the 2017 serial murder of nine people who had posted suicidal thoughts on social media, a high-profile case that shocked the nation. In a lay judge trial at the Tachikawa branch of the Tokyo District Court, prosecutors sought the death penalty for Takahiro Shiraishi, 30, who pleaded guilty to murdering, dismembering and storing the bodies of the nine in his apartment near Tokyo. Flowers and drinks are seen on Nov. 20, 2017 on a street near the apartment complex in Zama, near Tokyo, where nine dismembered bodies were found in late October at the home of suspect Takahiro Shiraishi. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo “Nine young lives were taken in such a short period of two months,” a prosecutor said, adding that his crimes “deserve death.” Prosecutors also pointed out that there was no way the victims consented to being killed based on Shiraishi’s testimony that they resisted when being strangled. Throughout the trial, Shiraishi maintained “there was no consent” given by his victims, but his defense lawyers argued that he had their tacit approval as they met after sending direct messages to the…
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