Tokyo's Comic Book Mass Murderer Pleads Guilty

[Rich Johnston]

Yesteday, Tomohiro Kato pleaded guilty on all charges of murder and attempted murder made against him at the Toyko District Court. The murders were committed in 2008 in Akihabara, a district of Tokyo known for its comic book and video game stores.

The seven deaths and ten maimings was one of Tokyo's most bloody crimes in recent years, and Kato is expected to receive the death penalty, though his lawyers argue he is not mentally fit to stand trial.

Kato rented a large truck and drove it into a crowd of pedestrians before getting out and randomly stabbing people. The journey to Akihabara was recorded on message boards, Kato typing at the wheel about his loneliness and job worries. He had previously written about his desire to undertake a killing spree, without getting any reaction from other users. As a result of the case, the type of knife Akihabara used, a double blade instrument, has been banned.

Kati was a keen fan of comics, anime and video games, which is understood to contribute to the chosen scene of the crime. He was arrested on the scene.

He has since written;

"I destroyed them all and they cannot be brought back, no matter how deep my regret. What I did cannot be undone. For my crime I deserve to die many times over, and naturally I will get the death penalty."

Such crimes are very rare in Japan, the only similar case in recent memory was in 2001, where a former mental patient killed eight schol children with a knife. There have also not been any state executions since the new government took power last year.

[Mad_Man_Moon]

Such a shame.
A clearly mentally unwell man.

I understand the reasoning behind killing people that kill, but I can't advocate it as a punishment, it just doesn't seem right.
Yes, even for Saddam Hussein.

[MurrayC]

I am one of those wussy, pinko, ultra liberal Canadians you hear Bill O'Reilly and mAnn Coulter continuously complain about, but even I am in favour of the death penalty. Mental or not, pre-meditated murder is pre-meditated murder.

I agree that the death penalty is not meant to be a punishment or act as a deterrent for others, it is meant to remove the menaces from society so they are no longer a menace. If scientists can find a pill that cures mental illness in a single dose, or some sort of genetic manipulation to reprogram homicidal tendencies, then great! But until then, LIGHT 'EM UP!

I am so sick of "human rights" advocates siding for these nut jobs when they continuously forget who the real victims are.

[Mad_Man_Moon]

Maybe it's because I'm so far removed from it.

But as to the rest of that, of course, I know it's not at me, that'd be a silly thing to do ... as it is, though, I'm not really sure what I am ... because I hate humans, frankly.
But I just don't see the point in killing someone for something like this.
*shrug* Maybe I have a screw loose and should grow dreadlocks (from the hairs that aren't falling out), stop working for the man, and protest some drilling rigs n'shit.

sigh

[Peter J Poole]

I agree that the death penalty is not meant to be a punishment or act as a deterrent for others, it is meant to remove the menaces from society so they are no longer a menace. If scientists can find a pill that cures mental illness in a single dose, or some sort of genetic manipulation to reprogram homicidal tendencies, then great! But until then, LIGHT 'EM UP!

I am so sick of "human rights" advocates siding for these nut jobs when they continuously forget who the real victims are.

Imagine doing something like that, then being cured back to (bwahaha) 'normal' and knowing what you'd done. There's cruel and unusual punishment for you...

Cheers

[MurrayC]

Actually, I meant that the idea is for people to be diagnosed and cured of their mental disorder BEFORE they commit a terrible crime like murder. Even if you are cured after the crime, you should still fry.

[_OM_]

Yes, even for Saddam Hussein.

...Whose execution I blogged about as it happened with unrestrained enthusiasm. Damn thing should have been aired live on all US networks.

[apoehler]

Charming. I'm sure that would win America the love of the world.

[Peter J Poole]

Charming. I'm sure that would win America the love of the world.

The world will never love America. There are valid arguments for stopping trying for that and settling for a healthy bit of fear and respect.

Cheers

[kaiho]

OM .. are you Iraqi or from Kuwait? maybe Iran ?

if not, you are just another propaganda-brainwashed Yankee ... pity.